There is concern among many Americans that China will
eventually—some think inevitably— knock the United States off of its perch as
the world’s lone superpower. We see China’s economy booming while the American
economy is still struggling through quasi-recessionary conditions. We see
China’s spending on its military increasing by more than ten percent every year
while America’s military expenditures are being cut, cut, and then cut again.
We see China becoming one of the principle lenders bankrolling America’s
ever-increasing national debt. Finally, it seems that every other item
Americans purchase was made in China.
There is no question that Americans should be appropriately concerned about
China and its intentions vis-à-vis the United States. I am certainly one of
those concerned about the emergence of China. However, according to futurist
George Friedman—author of The Next 100 Years—if we take the long view
the China threat is over-rated. Consequently, it is important to put the issue
of China’s potential for gaining superpower status in proper perspective.
Friedman believes that China is a paper tiger that, in the long run, will turn
out to be a flash in the pan. He gives three reasons for this view. Friedman
does not deny China’s intentions in terms of global hegemony, but claims that
intentions are one thing while turning them into reality is another. ……. Read more at
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