The 00's the Chinese Decade and Chinese Triumphalism

China should listen because it is no where near a developed economy. When the Chinese economy starts inventing things rather than just assembling, then the discussion will shift.

Until then, China is just the West's factory.

 

The problem is what does america make?

 

Money. the only thing that matters.

 

Money, drugs, medicine, weapons, etc.

 

difference?

 

I put things like MRI and PET scanners under medicine, while lipitor would fall under drugs.

 

Look to japan for those items then.

 

True, but I subconsciously lump Japan in the West when talking about economies. That, and GE owns many patents on medical machinery.

 

China may be the West's factory but it is also the debtholder. This is why I think the balance of power is slowly shifting to China.

 

Their regulatory system protected them from suffering the same problems that befell the US, but then so did Canada’s. Maybe they are beginning to see their star rising, but politically their system is headed for inevitable change, and I would think that they would be aware of this. They are creating an ever expanding, wealthy, powerful, middleclass. The free enterprise direction they’ve taken inevitably leads to a devolution of power from the government to the bourgeoisie.

I don’t think China is an attractive model for despots, not ones with brains anyway. The Chinese government is progressively giving up power. It’s just managing the way that’s happening.

 

One or two international incidents, which may reflect China's foreign policy change from passive past on that front, don't mean China thinks it is superior to other developed nations.
But a stronger sense of sovereignty and self esteem is rising among Chinese, in contrast to 10 or 20 years ago, when many Chinese think moon is more round in developed countries. Americans overstaying visa in China these days get kicked out of China and a lecture about China's sovereignty, which was unheard of 10 years ago.
I don't think it is fair to call that sentiment triumphalism.

 

The balance of power is being decentralized, but it definitely wont be tipping towards China. It can't afford to antagonize the US and Russia at the same time for example, and Europe will always side with the US.

 

Good! Competition is healthy. Lord knows Americans need to get off their asses and start competing again. America needs to regain its competitive edge, but before that we will need to eat some humble pie first.

 

China's influence in the world is growing both economically and militarily and there is nothing the U.S. can do to stop it. Get used to it because it will continue unless there is a sudden event or two that throws things off track. Bush got it right when he said the two countries are strategic rivals. The sparks will fly.

 

Probably the fact that Mercantilism runs out of customers will be that track thrower-offer.

 

China should also try to not drink too much of its own kool-aid. At the end of the day, China invents practically nothing! America is still by and large the innovation engine behind the world's progress. As long as America continues to dominate the world in intellectual property, China will continue to lag behind.

Also, China will no longer be the 'world's factory' when its standard of living goes up enough so that it would make more sense to shift production elsewhere, it is just how capitalism works. Industrial production is a terrific way to develop a nation's economy and modernize its infrastructure, eventually someone else will be able to provide that service for cheaper and then China will have to find other venues for growth. Granted, China is still a few decades from worrying about that.

 

Hello, India.

 

I think the CCP will be okay with not being top dog in the next 50 years...provided that they're still in power.

They're playing a long term game.

 

Well, yes. I think the Chinese are keenly aware of that.

And one area I know China has made significant progress over the United States is in stem cell research, thanks to the very wise executive order severely limiting research in that field, mandated by our dearly beloved President Bush Jr. The ambition is there as well; we know China is trying to become a leader in green energy and medical innovation as well. The talent pool is coming along too. The infrastructure and support are being provided. Quite simply, there is almost nothing that can stop China from simply transitioning away from the world factory into a more knowledge-based power. The will is there and the resources are too.