Beware Of China - written by Gianni Truvianni

It can not have escaped anybody's notice who follows the news or happenings in the world in any way that China has become a world power to the point that calling it a "developing nation" (this a new term for "underdeveloped nation") would simply be inaccurate if not completely delusional. China has recently past Japan as the second largest economy in the world in terms of GDP and is set to pass the United States within 20 years or so which most definitely would not only not qualify China as a developing nation but rather as very developed nation. Of course, poverty still persists in China despite a new class of affluent Chinese having emerged yet despite their wealth not being as perhaps balanced as it should be; China is still a country that has become a new player in the world in not only the economical sense but in the political one as well. China having recently also taking to investing in their military capabilities which could seriously threaten Taiwan's fragile independence.

Of course, to say that China is still a communist country, in light of all the changes and economic progress that has been going on in the last two decades would be pure narrow minded stubbornness on the part of those who simply refuse to see the reality being presented on to them. This reality being as evident as the sun on bright clear day yet despite China's having renounced communism in no unclear way, we in the west must not delude ourselves with optimism that they have done likewise with their totalitarian regime. For the fact of the matter is that China still practices the one party system with political freedom continuing to be a nonexistent factor along with that of the press and expression which are still strictly controlled by the government. This in spite of all the changes which have occurred in the last two decades.

Of course, we do not see popular uprisings in China like we have been seeing in countries Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Syria yet this hardly means that the people of China enjoy any more freedom than the peoples of the countries I have mentioned; out which three have already had their governments toppled while one perhaps is close to it. China till this day persisting on its system of oppression and this despite their revolution having taken place over 50 years ago and never having been in any real threat of collapsing. China, in fact still looking upon those who in any way protest against their regime as either malcontents or criminal element which should be imprisoned. This going to the extent that China still has many books which are not only not allowed in the country but one can actually be arrested for reading and I need not add what they do to block all internet content of a nature which criticizes any of the policies of the Chinese government.

In all this, we should also not by any stretch of the imagination over look that China still maintains their "one child per family policy" in spite of both starvation and overpopulation already having been taken care off. I being of the believe that this policy which perhaps was needed when starvation was rampant and China's population spiraling out of control; is solely being kept in order to prevent China from being invaded by a new wave of today's generation. Naturally, a new generation which would be more active on the internet and perhaps no longer so eager to fanatically and without question follow China's communist party. This as was the case with their grandparents during the disaster that was the so called "Cultural Revolution" which had nothing to do with cultural but rather with oppressing every free thinking idea so that Mao could get back the power he had lost. Mao by then having become but a symbol in China while the real business of government was being managed by more pragmatic men with less emphasis on Maoism and more on the kind of reform which in fact would have brought China the progress they sought.

In writing this article, I would like to make it perfectly clear that I have nothing against Chinese people in either a racist fashion or personal one for that matter. As I hold them with all the respect I believe most of us feel they deserve. Chinese people being intelligent, hard working, creative, disciplined and those who under no circumstances should ever be underestimated. Their culture also one which apart from being one of the oldest in the history of the world has provided many wonders from their "Great Wall" to printing to wondrous works of both literature and philosophy yet none of this changes one factor; China is still an enemy of the United States and the free-world.

Of course, we are living in a time in which political and economical enemies or perhaps better put, rivals no longer meet on battle fields or the oceans with their armies or navies confronting each other's in acts of aggression commonly referred to as wars. It being our good fortune that such events so common to the last centuries of man are for the most part behind us with most present "wars" being limited to conflicts with nuclear weapons being that which most likely will never be used by any nation though the possibility of certain rogue states such as "North Korea" and "Iran" resorting to such measures should never be ruled out. "Iran" also being an area where China has failed to live up to its international obligations as a permanent member of the United Nation's security council in helping to impose sanctions.

In all this, I am perfectly aware that many countries, the United States including have taken to demonizing China in the last few years. This condemnation giving rise to a panic similar to the one I grew up with against the now defunct Soviet Union yet I also fear that to go back to such attitudes could only serve to increase tensions though on the other hand. This other hand also being one which we can not afford to ignore. As China's system of politics and rigid censorship of the truth and democracy is not one that we can ever (I can not emphasize this enough) accept as the international standard or even try to justify with their recent economic progress much of which is based on what in essence amounts to "cheap labor".

As for the United States, yes we as Americans need to engage with China as Reagan did with the Soviet Union yet never forgetting that their system is not one which we should ever tolerate. This even if our economies have become very strongly linked and the US along with many American companies having grown dependent on China in recent years yet we along with the Chinese; should also never forget that there are other countries where American investment might also be wisely placed. It being other powerhouses in the region such as India, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia where American companies along with those of the EU might also very easily invest in. This due to these countries not only having substantially large populations which are also eager to work and develop their nations with the same kind of creativity, discipline and intelligence as the Chinese but also not being controlled by a system which still sees it fit to tell its people what books and how many children they may have.

Of course, in all this I would like to distinguish between the people of China and their government which unfortunately has yet failed to understand or perhaps simply accept the fact that freedom for people to speak and create without fear is a most crucial part of a countries development. This along with how it is a government's responsibility as well as privilege to serve their people and it should never be the other way around. This precisely how the Chinese government sees its people who are in no position to question let alone change any decisions made by those whom their hard work supports so they might live in luxury while most still do so in poverty.