Ch. 27 - From Outside in to Inside Out
Ch. 28 - China's First-World Seduction
Ch. 29 - Malaysia and Indonesia: The Greater Chinese Co-Prosperity Sphere
Ch. 30 - Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam: The Inner Triangle
Ch. 31 - Size Matters: The Four Chinas
What is interesting about China is that it is still considered a second world country, but still has the superpower status that the US and Europe has. Their main strategy of success is "by actually giving larger gifts and tribute to its vassals than it received, an elegant facade to mask the reality of dominance" (p.258) in addition to buying as much as they can. China's relationship with South Asian countries is one of friendship, where Thai and Chinese business men "don't just cooperate; they bond, declaring that they are "none other than brother"" (p.296).
South East Asia - http://www.habitatforhumanity.org.uk/images/where/AsiaPacific_map.gif
The United States once had strong ties with South Asian countries but is now being replaced by China, whose ties with each country are even stronger than the ties amongst themselves. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is siding with China, not only because they are afraid of what will happen if they don't but also because they believe that China has their backs. This apparently, is one of the reasons why these countries are relying on the US less and less. During Asian financial crisis, the Americans’ foreign policy abandoned these South East nations leaving scars on their relationships. For example, “Thailand was deeply insulted at not being bailed out by the United States during its 1997 currency crisis, just three years after the United states had rescued Mexico” (P. 295). With China offering huge economic incentives, and with a shared culture, it will be extremely difficult for the US to be at where they once were, especially in the East.
This is a video on Thailand and Vietnam
This section of the world is complicate in that each of the countries has their unique situation. Their histories are varied and are each led by different people. As usual, the type of government within a country does not matter to China, what matters is the business from that country. For example, Myanmar (used to be Burma), the country’s political system is a military junta (a country led by military leaders). This doesn’t matter because Chinese intermarriage and land acquisition have resulted in the cities that are Chinese populated with signs in Chinese. Myanmar is basically a province of China. Each country is doing their own thing, and all contributing to the increased unity of “Asianess” in the region, with China at the forefront.
In Southeast Asia, China still does what it does best. Because these countries are so near China, it is an area where the Chinese Diasporas can build an economy. By “relaxing investment laws and, potentially, offering dual citizenship to overseas Chinese” (p.274), China is taking steps in making sure that the Chinese overseas will always sees themselves as not Malaysian, or Indonesian etc., but a Chinese. This is especially important because in countries like Indonesia, the small percentage of Chinese control 70% of the country’s economy.
It may seem like China is the model that all nations in the world should emulate, but there are actually some problems that China still has to face. Back to the example of Burma/Myanmar, because China has basically established it as a province, buying most of its timber and forests, gem deposits, and plans to acquire 6.5 trillion cubic feet of gas and oil, it is loosened its borders to illegal trafficking, smugglers, and AIDS. As Khanna puts it, “China is no more capable of policing its vast borders than Europe or the United States are” (p.294). In addition, China also has six of the world’s top ten polluted cities and with the Chinese who still want to have fresh air and scenery, it is up to China to establish many more environmental laws and develop more technologies and conservation techniques. Not only does the pollution within China affect Chinese, it also affects the world, as it will soon be responsible for 1/3 of the pollution in California. The countries that Chinese industrialize will soon face the same problems, as there is massive deforestation and raw materials mining.
It is difficult to resist the Chinese superpower because of the benefits of being associated with it. Even the US Corporation Wal-Mart has a vast majority of its goods produced in China and employees close to 200 thousand Chinese (p.309).
Wal-Mart factory in China - From http://www.chinalaborwatch.org/images/walmartfactory.jpg
China is surly one of the world's superpowers. “The thirty-year period ending in 2010 is meant to be remembered as one in which China reclaimed territories wrongfully seized by the West, delivered massive economic growth and development, and had its greatness recognized by hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics” (P.302).
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