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Subscribe to RSSBEIJING - Reading the most frequently emailed article list on The New York Times website is instructive these days.
For days, China has ranked in the top three most popularly searched terms on the site.
Last weekend, four of the newspaper’s top ten most emailed articles were about China: the ongoing controversy over extreme Chinese parenting; a U.S. solar company’s decision to shut down its main operations in Massachusetts; an op-ed about the strength of Chinese education and the importance of Confucianism; and the opportunities for American architects to design and build, unfettered, in China.
Other Western media coverage of China has verged on hysteria: ranging from an entire Glenn Beck program last week devoted to the country (“Their kids are passing us!” “They’re grabbing more and more oil!”) to a bewildering piece in Foreign Policy magazine about not just the rise of China but the rise of the Han Chinese.
No wonder a poll last week found that nearly half of Americans surveyed say China is the world’s top economic power.
And just what do the Chinese make of all this talk?
"What superpower?"
Well, we know there’s a large population in China that believes their country is a superpower and that, frankly, it’s about time. These hardcore nationalists can be found in Chinese Internet chat rooms, holding court on the “American conspiracy theory”:
“[Extreme nationalists] hold high the ‘patriotic’ banner, talk about hundreds of years of national humiliation, claim that the U.S.-led Western alliance is still ‘trying to push China to death,’ and regard the exchange rate, foreign debt purchase, trade deficit, climate change, Central Asian anti-terrorism campaigns and the neighboring countries’ worries against China as burdens. They insist ‘China can say no,’ and that the ‘China model’ will be popular all over the world.”
But speaking to young educated urban Chinese, we found a much more measured and reasoned view as well as a great deal of skepticism about whether China is indeed a superpower.
“China might look like [it’s very powerful] from the outside,” said He Rui, a 24-year-old local government employee in Changchun, Jilin Province. “However, there are still a lot of serious problems [like] the environment or income inequality. If [our government] can address these problems and also keep [the country] improving and growing, then maybe it can become a very powerful nation.”
Challenges such as pollution and environmental degradation; managing a population of 1.3 billion – 350 million to 400 million of whom are expected to move to cities within 20 years; widespread political corruption; a yawning gap between the haves and have-nots; a rapidly ageing population; a vociferous need for energy to keep the economy going – all these and more tend to offset any inclination for self-congratulation.
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Chinese and U.S. flags are displayed on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C., ahead of the arrival of President Hu Jintao.
In fact, only 12 percent of Chinese surveyed last month in an annual poll believe their country is a “superpower.” And that was a drop from the year before.
“I think when we look at our own country, we can be more critical and see the flaws or weaknesses,” said Mandy Wu, a 22-year-old resident of Beijing who is preparing to sit for a graduate school exam to study history or politics. “Maybe Americans look at certain areas where they think they are weak and then compare it to China, where those areas are strengths for China.”
The appeal of the American dream
Despite reading reports of American malaise or the viability of the American dream, some Chinese students said day-to-day life in their country is still very hard.
“I don’t know how many Americans feel frustrated or how many still hold their beliefs. But in China I think there are many people who believe that they should be better off or have a dream,” said Li Kaiyuan who is from Jiangsu Province but is studying acoustics at Beijing’s Academy of Science. “They spend the day in a very large machine. They do not have a dream.”
“Many people are unsatisfied with their current livelihood,” echoed Lu Jie from Shanghai Normal University. “I do not think a country with numerous domestic problems can be called a superpower.”
While everyone we interviewed acknowledged China’s economic might, some questioned its sustainability. “The economy is export-oriented, which is built on cheap labor,” said Wu Mian, a sophomore from Yunnan Province who is studying at Hong Kong’s Baptist University. “Now even that labor advantage is disappearing.”
And everyone believed their nation is still lagging in all other areas. For instance, the U.S. is still seen as the leading producer of innovative ideas and cutting edge technology across all industries.
“I don’t want to have my PhD education in China. I have a dream to go to America,” said Li, the acoustics student. “America is still the scientific center of the world.”
It’s not just science and technology.
“I do believe Chinese people or at least the majority of Chinese people are enjoying a higher standard of living,” said Wu Mian. “We consume more. We have more money in our pockets to buy more products from other countries. But I still think we are learning from other countries and the lifestyle we are imitating now is from other countries.”
The limits of soft power
Chinese values might also be too esoteric for the country to have the kind of cultural influence exhibited by the U.S. Liu Zhuo-yu, a native of Chongqing studying at Hunan’s Central South University, characterized the current national values system as having two defining features: an inferiority complex that China fell behind the West in the 19th and 20th centuries and paradoxically a deep pride in its ancient history and culture.
“There is always a gap between China and the West in this field. That is why we cannot communicate with [the West] very well,” she added.
Limits on “soft power,” an essential ingredient to achieving superpower status, might also be due to censorship in China, others noted. “People do not have the complete freedom of speech,” said Wu Mian. “In this case, it’s too early to say whether the country’s culture is influential or not.”
“The Chinese model is not perfect, much less perfect than western countries,” said Wu Hao, a graduate student of journalism at Renmin University.
Underlying the criticism, however, was a sense of earnestness.
“I think it’s important for America to improve, because it will help China grow, too,” said He Rui. “Because then we have somewhere to turn to for direction and for learning. Of course, we have our own direction, but we want to grow with the U.S.”
“I don’t care whether China or the U.S. is a superpower,” said Wu Hao. “I just want the world to be better.”
And, of course, there was a sense of anticipation, too.
“I think I can see [China becoming a superpower],” said Mandy Wu. “In my lifetime, I have seen the country become this strong.”
“But even if it rises, it doesn’t mean it’s dangerous country,” she added.
With assistance from He Xin and Zhu Tong.
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All politicians have an agenda, as aimless as most are around the world(or even pointless). Don't matter what system is in place. The elected and appointed officials ultimately get Rich unlike the people that put them there. Ignorance is bliss...
It's true, we hear from Gates that China is a force to reckon with, that we must keep it in tow in order to secure our interests. But from this article it would seem that the Chinese people are very different from the way they are portrayed by Western politicians. Not to vindicate their politicians though, because it is probable that they are the same beligerent, hawkish, egotistical and self serving politicians as we have here in the Western world. If only our politicians would listen to the people, "live and let live."
I think that's the case pretty much in every country. The governments don't often represent the sentiments of the people. Even in Iran this is the case. A lot of their younger folk would actually like to be a little more "westernized".
It's the "have mores'" at the top who "want more" that keep countries in conflict with each other. Most average people just want to live their lives and be left alone.
"No wonder a poll last week found that nearly half of Americans surveyed say China is the world’s top economic power."
Which just shows how poor a job the media does in communicating the truth. Here are some interesting facts;
The U S Gross Domestic Product (GDP = value of goods and services produced in the U S) in 2010 was about $14.7 Trillion. The amount of China's GDP was just under $5 Trillion - about one-third of ours.
The income disparity is even greater, since the Chinese have more than 4 times as many people, so the average for Americans is about $48,000 per capita, vs only about $3,800 per capita in China.
Yes, China is growing rapidly, but so was Japan 30 years ago, and then they stagnated when their currency was revalued and they lost their competitive edge.
The Chinese are obviously taking advantage of lax import and currency regulations to make massive exports to the USA, but it's only a matter of time before we require that they start playing fair.
Roy, your right, its the media's fault that half of Americans say China is the world’s top economic power. Heck, while were at it, its the media's fault that more than half probably could not point to China on a map. Good thing we have the straight shooting Faux News team to get it right; theyll counter the lame stream media!
Adam from Canada " If only our politicians would listen to the people, "live and let live." "
How cute, but that doesn't work very well when one side (China) is taking away our means of living through unfair trade practices and stealing our industrial secrets by 'hacking' into our industrial computers - an unofficial policy of the Chinese government.
Roy, it is a nice thought isn't it.
More faux humility from China, which is easily one of the most arrogant countries in the world. The strategy of China is to scream 'We are victims!" while launching cyber attacks on the US and trying to push their influence out all around them. It wouldn't be hypocritical if they didn't pretend to do what all other countries do in the world.
If I were the Chinese people, I wouldn't want superpower status. Along with that status comes a responsibility, that acted upon, in the end leaves the rest of the world end's up hating and despising you.
I think it will take decades for China to sustain a middle class, as did the United States. As for being a super power, the world is becoming one large corperation with the United States, China, and Russia being the CEOs. Super Power will be a term used by those left behind.
Whenever I think of China I think of the classic line; who needs enemies when you've got friends like the Chinese. There is very little that the Chinese and American people share in common outside of the zest to improve one's quality of life.
Following WWII, America was full of pride and was restless with the ambition of creating a better quality of life through inspired innovation. Now that America has achieved what can only be described as a remarkable achievement is testament to what man can achieve when one sets lofty goals for itself.
However, that is not what is propelling China's growth. China's growth is being fueled by the West's desire to exploit a cheap labor pool and the largest pool of consumers the world has ever seen. Subsequently, billion of dollars of foreign investment has been pouring into China, and with it, decades of research and development which the Chinese are exploiting by stealing all the technology created by Western corporations, universities and govts.. Asia's strength has traditionally not been innovation, but taking the innovation and tweaking it to make it better (think Japan).
The Chinese are not America's friend, they are merely exploiters of man's achilles heel, which is greed. They will continue to take everything the West is willing to give away to them in their quest for profits, but when they reach the point where they no longer need the foreign investment and innovation, they will become the worst schoolyard bully the world has ever seen. Mark my words!
A sleeping Giant has been awakened..we'll All Understand when he becomes Volatile, when he does not get his Way....
I think everyone needs to take to heart the final person's statement from the article regarding China:
Fear the power/government, not the people.
Ask youself, "Why?"
If the link didn't come through... go to cnn.com/2011/US/01/19/china.funds.language.programs/index.html
It's not just industrial secrets. They've gotten plans for ICBM's and even entire Battleships from us. Absolutely absurd that our government lets that stand.
Super power status has little to do with rhetoric, it has everything to do with the amount of goodies a nation has to offer consumers. China is now the world`s leading retail merchant, very few made in America products are sold in stores.
Super power status comes from a country's ability to 'persuade' others to do it's bidding. China's neighbors do what China says.
China owns over 40% of our national debt. It's a black hole for our discretionary dollars. Who do we obey?
Well in my opinion of what Roy said about China is off base, yes our GDP is higher then theirs but 70% comes form the service sector Retail, wholesale, financial, etc... but not form manufacturing. and this is the problem we face today sense everyone is heavily in debt it's harder to continue our way of life through consumption and thus a downward death spiral occurred. At 20% unemployment, 14 trillion in national debt, and unfunded entitlement programs, the United States will not maintain its superpower status for long.
And what does this have to do with China? Plenty ever sense the federal reserve started printing more money to cover massive losses in the financial sector, the currency became inflated this causes the treasury bonds to lose value. China needs to dump its junk status T-bills without crashing it's economy. In the time being China needs to secure resources mostly oil remember this is a growing superpower and the demand for oil will increase. but the thing is there's not enough oil for both China and the US. they will have to fight over it this is why China continues to grow its military forces. If they get control of the oil supplies or force O.P.E.C to price the oil out of the US. dollar and in some other currency we will see the cost at the pump well in the 20s. So now this is not a question of if it will happen but a question of when..
@morris-wise
Well, you kinda picked that up from Caesar's playbook, didn't you. Toys for consumers indeed! Meaningless baubles. Did you know that China is rapidly becoming the world leader in solar energy, wind turbine power and battery technology? Did you know that they just put a 300 mph high-speed railway into operation between downtown Peking and Shanghai?
The Romans thought they could keep the people quiet with bread and circuses. It started as cheap bread and cheap tickets to coliseums, but eventually they got to free bread and free circuses and the people still wouldn't remain quiet.
The baubles on Walmart shelves are not meaningful. Most of them could disappear in an instant and we would adjust immediately. What makes a difference is where the bulk of the profit goes and where the money comes from to pay for them. Right now the bulk of the profit goes to China and we are borrowing money from China to buy them.
our debt is 14 tril, china holds less than 1 tril of our debt, how is that 40%? No wonder they said our education system sux.
@Tired, Uhh you do realize that the national debt is at $14 Trillion right?
http://www.usdebtclock.org/
And you do realize that the total debt held by foreigners is only $4 Trillion right? And of this debt China only holds (As of November 2010) $896 Billion, or $0.896 Trillion.
http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/tic/Documents/mfh.txt
I suggest the next time you decide to spew numbers out, try to actually post a citation for the source, You'll probably find out that you're wrong in most cases.
Let the American's pay for fighting wars, deposing of dictators and nation building with their tax dollars and soldier citizen's. The US mantra is no spoils for the victors, allow massive immigration and spend billions to help the dispicable country recover from the damages the US military and State Department causes or perceives before they leave to ruin another country. Chinese and Russians are smart.
Perhaps Glenn Beck would have us buy gold, guns and non perishable food to protect against the rise of China.
What are the properties of an international super-power?
While i dont really agree with your post it is worth pointing out that your list format works the first 4 items. After that, it really just looks like a rant with some numbers beside it. For example, #10, how is that a property of a superpower?
Anyway, im here to help. F! China is passing us faster than i thought!
How far did you have to bend to find those ridiculous definitions....????
What difference does perception make. We trade with China and there is an imbalance, not only on the books but, also in the monetary exchange. If we're going to bend over and let them do what they are doing then we will reap the rewards and be not only a debtor nation but, also a non-respected one as well. We still have plenty and we have the ability to right ourselves. All this soul searching for what we should and shouldn't do is stupid. Get leaders that have our best interest as a country and ideals at heart and not those with a particular agenda to change our whole country from a capitalist one to a socialist one like the currrent admin.
Good Job China! I hope you take over the spot of being the Police Man of the World..USA is still # 1 in that area..And when you do take over that # 1 (Policeman of the World) Spot..Please dont forget to stop by Washington and collect your pay....
The majority of US citizens voices are not heard. The East and West coast big cities along with Chicago, control the elections, while the rest of the country is too busy working 10-12 plus hour days trying to survive to do anything about it. I'd love to see the next election be a majority vote instead of the electoral college. We the people have no authority, government does as they see fit without regard to our wishes. They try to protect us from ourselves, allow us to be responsible for our decisions good or bad. I'd love it if we could elect someone simple enough to know that it takes the people who you are governing to tell you what they want and then act accordingly. Why are my representatives living in DC? Shouldn't they live here with me and see how their decisions affect us? Can we not video conference Congress? If they choose not to do their job (not vote) shouldn't they be fired? Why do they have a "lame duck" session when nothing gets done? If I went to work and said, "I'm not doing anything today" I'd be fired. Who gives out loans to people with absurd amounts of debt and then keeps giving them more loans without repayment? (loan sharks perhaps, a bank wouldn't China is America's loan shark) Would you give money to the pool guy if he didn't clean your pool? (welfare) I love the idea of America, but she is no longer Great we have become apathetic and she has lost her glow.
First, I just moved from one of the country's "electorate-controlling" west-coast cities to the middle of corn farming America. I have honestly never had to work less hard in my life. My rent is less than half of what it was for twice as much, insurance is cheaper (one sixth), taxes are cheaper, sure my income is less, but not that much less. How do you find yourself working 10-12 hours a day to get by? I work five hours a day at $10/hr, and I have more than enough. What are you talking about?
Second, the very vast majority of US citizens don't live here, that's why 'their' voices are not heard.
Third, the rest of the country is afraid to listen to their voices, as they are perceived to be the voices of a group of people that are vicariously thought through by a 2000 year old novel.
That being said, I totally agree with the second part of your writing. The government is crap, but the majority of the world will, at some point, take the form of deification so I don't worry about it too much. If they want to tax me more then I'll pay more taxes. If they want to tax me less, then I will pay less. If they want free health care for everybody, then I'll take it. If they don't, then I'll buy health insurance. I have no debt, and I live below my means. I largely feel unaffected by the government.
@bobs, The only thing i would have to say besides the fact that your post was completely asinine, is that if there was a majority vote just based on population, the East and West coast would always win, and we would be living in a much better America, instead of just dragging around the middle of the country. But fortunately for you, that's what the Coasts are all about, to help out the less fortunate (Even the red states) when you can, even when their political ideology doesn't match our own way of thinking.
Hey DISBELIEVER, you know what? You are exactly what every professional politician believes the common American to be, a mambe pambe i really don't care much i will roll with the flow and accept whatever my representatives feel that i need. You have no real opinion and you've stated it, so i really don't understand why i'm commenting to you. Except that i want the other readers to see you as an example of what is wrong with this country. You stand for nothing straddling the fence makes me ill. Your representatives are exactly what it says "YOUR REPRESENTATIVES", for your beliefs. The majority of representatives federal and state, do not represent the wishes of the people. Thank you very much for making yourself a perfect example of what today's professional politician hopes to represent.
Killer- do you not understand that the middle of the country that you say you are dragging around is responsible for feed ing your dumbass as well as the majority of those individuals defending your dumbass? So stick your asinine comments up your coast.
@Bobs,
Ok, so do you not understand that it's the coasts that pay for your welfare state, farm subsidy sucking, war making people? Without the coast's you wouldn't have the money to even put the infrastructure in place to export food, And we still have local farms that are pretty much undeveloped because too much money goes into your farm subsidies making your factory farmed food uncompetitively cheap.
The best martial arts movies come from China. Chinese movie fight choreography is the standard by which all other martial arts films are judged. And Chinese food is the best too.
You couldn't pay me to watch a frickin' Jet li, chunfat, ratatatatatatat movie. They are all stupid with no plot, And Mexican and Italians smoke the chinese in the culinary arts. Actual Chinese food is just about the grossest thing on the planet.
@JJ, I'll assume you've never actually had Chinese food while in China right? I agree that the scripts for Jet Li movies are pretty bad, but most action movie scripts are pretty dumb, take a look at the expendables. There are much better Chinese movies that are not action oriented with much better scripts, but as they are completely in Chinese (Mandarin most of the time) and really would lose a lot in translation, they never make it to the US.
bobs burgers
I like your text-concept and Yes"she has lost her glow".
They are nothing compared to the power of The Force.
Until our students are saying they want to go to China to get their education rather than vice versa, I'm not seeing an issue. China uses a majority of the worlds oil to make petroleum based products i.e. our kids toys and our picnics forks and spoons. They are just now becoming an industrialized nation. Look up when the U.S. became industrialized. Research what it is we make. We don't need to make cheap plastic crap because our economy hasn't been geared that way since before WW2. Most of you have bought into the sell our government is giving you on China and you've done nothing to study where and why the U.S. is great. I have no problem with that sell because it's based on fear. Without that fear our fat,spoiled nation will only become more complacent and countries like China and India will become an real issue. Talking up China only works to make those that can, do.
china is going to end up a great power like the usa they will be a help to a good world
The best quote in the article;
This really gives me a sense of hope.
China is not our Enemy!
We has absolutely no leverage with China anymore. In fact the US has very little leverage period. Its sad how American's sold out America by buying cheaper made products made elsewhere. If you want decent wages yourself you have to spend that money to help pay other people's good wages. If you cheap out you sell out someone's job here in the US. The only country who has really helped us with jobs is Japan. Their large investments in Automotive plants has at least helped keep some good paying jobs here. Yet, I heard the other day the UAW wants to try and Unionize some of them. Let me say that this is a bad ideal and as you have seen countless union jobs disappear from the likes of GM and Chrysler. We should not be fooled by their motives at the UAW. They want more leverage but they will repeat the lost jobs that has already happened. We live in a world economy and Businesses have a much easier ability to just move somewhere else if their profit margins go away. We want jobs then we must accept that in order to keep jobs we must understand that we are not just competing for those jobs with other American's or even Canadian's. But on a world scale.
Once the majority of the Chines population becomes morbidly obese and start calling themselves "consumers," then we'll talk.
Appropriate tariffs on all Chinese imports would get us out of debt to China in less than five years. Then, even the lame stream media could not confuse China for a superpower. Of course, if we also imposed a quality control on all Chinese imports, we would have nothing to tax. None of the products would be allowed off the ships. Nothing against the Chinese people; but you can't run a country the way their communist leaders do and expect anything better. Like all other nationalities that have come to, setlled in and populated America from all over the world, Chinese-Americans have enriched this country in many ways. Cast the yoke of China's leaders off the backs of its people, then you'll see a real superpower emerge.
Jan 15, 2011 ... China eyes California's high-speed rail system ... meet Saturday with local high -speed rail proponents at Precision Engineering in Fresno. ...
www.fresnobee.com/2011/01/15/2234468/chinese-rail-officials-visit-fresno.html
Odder than that...I've ridden a state of the art Mag-Lev train (speeds above 130 mph) from Shanghai proper to Shanghai airport and thought, "Now why doesn't America have one of these ground jets!".
Well now they down play China, all while we are throwing billions in the speed rails which it so happens they are in the United States this week also making contracts to build them and even staff. In California they are meeting in Fresno.
China faces a whole series of issues, not the least of which is a gender gap as shown here:
http://viableopposition.blogspot.com/2011/01/chinas-growing-gender-gap-another-side.html
In some parts of China, their one child policy has led to up nearly 30 percent more males than females. This growing gender gap could ultimately lead to unrest in the country which will interfere with its economy, including its manufacturing capacity. As the world's factory, this will impact the economy of the entire world including that of the United States which needs the low-priced goods produced in China to keep its inflation rate under control and its interest rates low.
Wanting to go to college in America, and actually having the OPPORTUNITY to go (due to cost mainly), is a huge difference. At least in other countries, more people have the OPPORTUNITY. What's better? Going to a not so great college in another country, or not being able to afford to go to ANY college in America?
Actually, many of our colleges are free to students from other countries. MIT for example. You do have to be accepted though.
I do not believe China is a threat to the U.S. China's emergence is based solely on cheap labour, and their productivity and efficiency is lacking, as they are destroying the environment. I do not believe China will succeed the U.S. as the world's superpower: they do not invent anything, don't have the technology, their language is too complicated to become the language of the world, different from English which is such a flexible and ever-innovating language, nobody aside from the chinese themselves care about their cultural icons, artists, celebrities (can any of you name 5 great actors/actresses, singers, sportsmen, artists from China?...I doubt that many can). The real threat to America are ourselves, and the complacency in to which our society has fallen. I fear more the spoiled and whinning society we are becoming.
I suggest you compare their GDP growth compared to ours if you think they will not become a super-power and we are quickly losing clout on our end as a super-power.
"The real threat to America are ourselves, and the complacency in to which our society has fallen. I fear more the spoiled and whinning society we are becoming."
strongly agree with your comment
This will continue to happen and China will continue to progress further and further then the USA. Its quite simple. The US government doesnt have a clue of what they are doing. Running this country into the ground with old ideals, ideas, and the thought that capitalism is the ultimate answer. Unfortunately, capitalism sparks alot of good things. The draw back is, with out new blood and fresh ideas ( logical ) ones. It will fail. A capitalistic approach can only last so long before it falls flat and hits itself square in the face. This will continue throughout history to your grandchildren and your children until people open up their minds and start thinking differently. CEO's making 4 billion a year, with 10 billion in the bank sitting there. Greed? Some say thats hard work and capitalism. No matter what you want to call it. It's greed. Funny sitting back watching greed, ignorance, arrogance and prejudice shreading this country apart. Yet, people dont see it. Explains many of the problems we have today. I am doing my part i assure you.
I think that the whole talking up of China is another scare tactic by our government so they can keep spending big bucks on military. Look at our military budget (600 and something BILLION) vs China's (90 something billion). The thing is China just recently over that last few years has had the money to start building a military. We have been spending big money for years on our military. Imagine the stuff that we have that nobody knows about. I can't hardly believe that they are any kind of immediate threat. Besides they need us to by all of that cheap plastic crap they make or else they won't have any money to do anything.
It is wishful thinking to suppose that 350 million Americans will continue to have leverage over 1.3 billion super intelligent Chinese workers. Fifty percent of Americans have an IQ range well below what is needed to work a fast food counter. But miracles can happen with prayer and faith in the benevolence of the Lord.
If you think China is all that right now, watch "Last Train Home", a documentary about a family's migration during the Chinese New Year from their factory to their home where the grandmother has been raising the couple's son and daughter by herself on a rural farm.
What they do have is initiative and the recognition that opportunities are not to be passed by and jobs are a blessing, but everything comes with a harsh cost.