from salon.com I believe:
"[Editor's note: A Chinese government official in Beijing recently wrote to an old family friend in his home village ... an act of courtesy he has observed for many years. Patrick Smith, our Asia Editor, received a copy of his letter ... and was asked that it be published anonymously.]
Americans now hope for a swift and dramatic victory in Iraq. They view the exercise as a great display of power that will be the beginning of a project to remake the Middle East in their own image.
It is breathtaking in its hubris, but it expresses the essence of the
unilateral perspective as the Americans entertain it: To triumph over
others ... and then refashion them to conform to the American vision.
It is a view predicated on the supremacy of American power as the
defining characteristic of our time.
No one here in Beijing questions the supremacy of American might. But we recognize America's status as a sole superpower as an interim.
It will be followed in the not-distant future by a world in which
multilateralism is the basis of order ... and where no one can act
alone. That is the lesson the Americans have to learn to their great
surprise.
China is not as powerful now as it one day will be. But it is making
itself strong. America is now powerful, but it is making itself weak.
It is isolating itself internationally at precisely the moment it should be maturing as a world leader.
"There are times when one need do little but watch and wait as those whom one opposes on one matter or another make even bigger mistakes. We Chinese have had many more centuries than the Americans to grasp this truth."
Thoughts?
― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 27 March 2003 01:44 (twenty-three years ago)
Very true, but the Chinese have made
themselves over in our image.
― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 27 March 2003 02:10 (twenty-three years ago)
It's true that america is isolating itself at a time when it whould be looking to integrate further with the global community. What always gets me is the arrogance of the assumption of power; any brief glance at a history book will tell you that it's transitory, over the last thirty years the UK has learned it the hard way, as in the past have most european powers. As have the Maya, the Incas, the Mongols....history is a juggernaut, and no respecter of current power. Of course, what the Chinese official in question is ignoring is that China is subject to this same as anybody else, which leads rise to an entertaining game: spot the superpower. They will emerge, is it gonna be China? is it gonna be India? will South America (be allowed to) get it's act together as an economic bloc? Place your bets...
― Matt (Matt), Thursday, 27 March 2003 02:38 (twenty-three years ago)
Hmmmmmmm. Interesting. Interesting but absolutely no way that note was written by "a Chinese official." Similar to the complaint that Chinese "journalists" were bombed in Yugoslavia. What exactly is a Chinese journalist in Yugoslavia. Is this 'official' an official propagandist? Salon has been duped.
The Chinese are interested in multilateral politics? Hummmmmm. Not likely.
The Chinese care what the "international community" thinks? Hmmmmmmmm. Not likely.
The Chinese have had an uncanny ability and tendency to destroy themselves repeatedly over the last 1,500 years. Don't be surprised if another 'great leap forward' or 'cultural revolution' comes along just as the Chinese economy starts to take off. The economic miracle is mostly happening in the coastal regions. There's still plenty of opportunity for chaos created by people manipulating the majority of the country with no access to the economic boom of the more fortunate areas.
Also, if history is a 'juggernaut' with no repect for current power, then what's the point of worrying about it?
I don't think S. America has much of a chance. While it's been the victim of colonialists for its entire history, including, of course currently suffering from U.S. 'assitance', it's a mistake to blame the outside world for the endemic corruption and instability of most of S. America. Also, it's not a "country" obviously. Its individual consituent states haven't been able to manage particularly well, so I see no reason that they could ever coalesce into an effectively managed economic bloc.
But I'm a pessimist...
― Skottie, Thursday, 27 March 2003 07:51 (twenty-three years ago)