The Current Discussion: In his recent PostGlobal blog post, "The Ugly Chinese," commentator John Pomfret says the world's perception of China isn't as rosy as it used to be. Do you see China as a threat? Why? Why not?

Europeans and “ugly” Americans really do not need more threats from other parts of the world. We already threaten our own countries and continents. We act against ourselves all the time, starting with pollution and ending with aggression.

The real question goes like this: is it possible that in the span of a decade, or an even shorter period, China might become the world’s leader in terms of economic potential? My answer is a strong yes. Could China become the world’s leader in terms of political and military potential? My answer is a weak yes.

But let’s take that question further: Would that be such a bad thing for us? I don’t know, but I don’t think so. Previous policemen of the world weren’t any better: let’s not mention the late Soviet Union, or the Tartar hordes or the Wehrmacht. So, let us not worry.

It wouldn’t hurt to start to study Chinese, though. I have heard it is an extremely difficult language, and it is also an extremely beautiful one.