Problems With China

There was a time when we rejoiced to speak directly with the Chinese government. The détente of Nixon’s era was a major achievement. And welcome. Decades later we had built a working relationship that bode well for both China and the USA. With the current white house occupant, the relationship turned decidedly sour.

The fault rests on both sides. China disrespected Obama; racial reasons? Trump simply doesn’t understand diplomacy. Instead, he plays power games constantly. Yes, China is guilty of stealing intellectual property from American inventors and corporations. Their theft and deep corporate spying allowed them to catch up with America in many tech fields. When they couldn’t get progress faster, they resorted to buying the American companies with the patents and then transferred them to their own economy.

China has stolen much of their technical advances. They have adapted to it well, however, something America seems to have trouble with. Our people do not do technology well over all the generations. Young, yes; elder, no.

China is now in position to handle a lot of what they once lacked. Now they desire a naval force to rival American strength. They build islands in the South China Sea from which to observe the passing world, and over that world they wish to press claims of control. Nonsense, China. That’s preposterous. If you are spoiling for a fight, you’d have a rough go of it. And oh so very wasteful of your own resources and your people’s lives.

Once we get a new president that understands diplomacy, we can work out the kinks with China. But the reality is China needs to sit down and re-examine what cooperation and collaboration look like. The result of those investments will be well worth it for them. And the global village will enjoy the peace from such efforts.

Teaming up with Russia and fellow dictator Putin is not a good decision on China’s part. I think China already knows this. Time will prove the point. We already know that point: Putin is not a leader or an international star. He is selfish and image obsessed. Wonder what his mirror looks like in the Kremlin? Does he talk to the image? His hubris is showing. We know; we have a ‘leader’ who is self-appointed and suffers hubris to the max.

America helped empower China’s economy massively. Now it uses that ability to harm the very people who helped them. I know, trump sends mixed messages that make no sense to China. That’s a large part of the current problem. But China should know better. It’s pathway to hegemony will be disappointing in the end. Why waste time, lives and assets on a futile objective.

Better if China collaborates with the global village and helps everyone become the best they can be. Peace is so much more rewarding than war, hot or cold.

August 2, 2020