China’s Future

What does China want for the future? How do they see themselves behaving in the world in 20 years?  Are they the benign behemoth nation offering help to small nations in need? Are they buyers of those small nations’ goods, controlling every part of their small brittle economy? Or maybe they merely walk in and take over the struggling nation claiming it as their own?

Perhaps China only wants to be left alone? The silent mysterious country that keeps to itself and needs no interference from anybody? They have said that before, but do they mean it?

Commercial reach and success have taught China in recent decades that there is much to be gained by trading with large portions of the world. They have encountered needed rare minerals for their manufacturing processes. They have learned how to manufacture delicate, scientific goods cheaper than everyone else. They have excelled in developing their universities and research facilities and output.

In the most recent final analysis, China has come to realize it cannot do everything it wants by flying solo. It needs the world community. It needs vital markets to buy its goods. It needs rare earth minerals. It needs expertise in engineering and applied sciences. It realizes this enough to buy the foreign companies with the expertise and patents to avoid making its own breakthrough discoveries.

So where does China come from to conclude it needs to build islands in the South China Sea and then militarize them? Why does it find it necessary to covet Taiwan and threaten it militarily? Why?

China has asked other nations to stay out of their internal affairs. I’m OK with that but are they willing to do the same with other nations?

The South China Sea does not belong to China. Building islands does not expand their territory to make that ocean part of their private preserve. It is international waters. The global community has freedom to use it for commerce. And they do. For the good of all the nations in the region, open commerce on the South China Sea is a good thing for everyone.

China, however, feels threatened by the mere presence of craft from other nations plying the waters. That is unreasonable.

So where do their goals lie? Will those be peaceful or militaristic?

Inquiring minds need to know.

September 20, 2021