With its gigantic economy, China now is much more confident in facing the West, including the US, which is on the brink of economic collapse. There is growing frustration in America where millions have lost their jobs in the last two years and massive layoffs continue. While there is little possibility that these two extreme contrasts can bring the two nations into fatal confrontation, the world can face unexpected risks if leaders of the US and China irresponsibly play their cards to satisfy domestic demands.
China and the US traded harsh words over the weekend after US President Barack Obama announced Friday that his administration would go ahead with the US$6.4 billion arms sales to Taiwan. Beijing threatened to retaliate unless Washington scraps the sales plan to Taiwan. Knowing China's mighty economy, there are only few countries or companies in the world that would want to risk angering China.
Washington and Beijing need to realize that both sides have no choice, but step up mutually beneficial relations, including on trade. President Obama is facing impatient Americans who want him to act quickly in boosting US exports and open foreign markets for US products or services. Obama is also facing mounting pressure to act firmly against China - the target of Americans' frustration because of the huge trade imbalance between the two.
Your comments:
Having witnessed the skill and ability of Chinese businessmen while living in Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong, I have no doubt China will indeed be an economic superpower, but the vast majority of Chinese still live in poverty.
According to the IMF, China still ranks 97th in gross domestic product (GDP) at purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita. When they scrap their evil crony communist system once and for all, no doubt they will become the greatest economic power on earth.
Jussi
Boston
The bigger you are, the harder you fall. Many countries have been world leaders and then lost their power.
This has been repeated throughout history and probably will happen to the United States eventually. If they do not realize the potential of China, it will happen faster than they think.
Sheldon Archer
Probolinggo, East Java
I have watched and listened to communist China's rhetoric for over 50 years and they have never shied away from confronting the West, especially the United States. It was always "running dog Imperialists", and "arrogance", and "interference" in their internal affairs.
This has always been a source of amusement as they take over countries with their military like Tibet; trample on people liberties and human rights like the Uighers; and still claim ownership over a self-governing nation of more than 50 years like Taiwan.
Yet they have never seen the irony or hypocrisy of their own extraordinary arrogance concerning their interference and imperialism.
Brien D
Brisbane
The United States needs to take into account the uneasy feeling against its imperial outreach and constant interference. The tactics of using its economic, information, cultural and military power against other countries one day may harm the United States' own interests. The US, for sure, does not want to take this risk.
Chris Landor
Vernon, CA
