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Escape from the two bullies

Currently most nations in Asia and outside are beholden to China or the US as a market for their goods and services.

Vishal Bhargava (The Jakarta Post)
Premium
Mumbai
Tue, May 2, 2017

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Escape from the two bullies In this April 7, 2017 file photo, President Donald Trump, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping walk together after their meetings at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP/Alex Brandon)

I

t is no secret that the rise of China is far from peaceful for the globe. After years of single-minded focus on economic growth, the dragon is showcasing its bulked muscle to nations near and far.

Small and weak nations like Mongolia are pummeled into submission for permitting the visit of spiritual leader Dalai Lama who Beijing considers as a separatist.

Small but dynamic economies like South Korea are punished by arbitrary inspections and closures of their companies in China for permitting a defense system on their land that is perceived to hurt China’s interests. A United Nations judgment in favor of the Philippines against Beijing on the South China Sea was dismissed.

Larger nations like India and Japan are poked routinely to test their resolve. The sole nation that had the capacity to tame China was the United States and under the presidency of Barack Obama it chose patience over belligerence.

China is doing nothing unprecedented in the history of mankind. It is merely being the big bully in a classroom where the biggest bully chose to look elsewhere. Donald Trump is not Obama.

He is loud, thin-skinned and seeks everything his way. If his campaign is any indication, then he will gleefully establish himself as the biggest bully of the globe in the next few months.

He will humiliate weak and strong nations who refuse to fall in line. China’s changed behavior on the North Korea issue in recent weeks is a demonstration of his ability to shower threats ferociously.

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