How a Chinese superpower may be different

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CHINA BUSINESS WEEKLY
How a Chinese superpower may be different
Suwatchai Songwanich
Chief executive Officer,
Bangkok Bank (China)

BEIJING: -- Is China a superpower? This intriguing question was recently posed by Vanchai Srichana, president of Mae Fah Luang University, at a Bangkok Bank event.

In Professor Vanchai's view, there are three aspects to being a superpower - economic might, military might and global influence.

And although China has both economic and military might, plus a great culture and history, its global cultural influence is not yet enough to qualify for superpower status.

For example, other superpowers - either in the present, such as the US, or in past centuries, such as France and Britain - have disseminated their cultural influence to every corner of the world through language, food, fashion, media and social systems.

China's global influence is much more modest. One reason for this, according to Vanchai, is that unlike Western powers, China didn't colonise any overseas territories. Instead, China's foreign policy approach was to create mutually beneficial trade.

This point has been repeatedly stressed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who says that Chinese culture advocates harmony and diversity. He vows that no matter how powerful China becomes, it will not exercise hegemony over other countries but will support a multipolar world.

While of course some might be sceptical about this, Xi can support his claim by pointing to China's long history of peaceful engagement through many centuries when it was a major economic power.

For example, in the 15th century, as a major maritime power, China could have colonised Southeast Asia - but it chose not to.

Rather than establish colonies, China set up a tribute system - in return for access to the Chinese market and protection, neighbours were required to give gifts to acknowledge China's superiority.

This was symbolic, as the gifts were reciprocated, usually with even greater value.

While conceding that China is not yet a superpower, Vanchai is confident that it will become one as its cultural influence grows.

His Mae Fah Luang University is a good illustration of the growing influence of China, as students study in Chinese as well as Thai.

While I agree that China is on track to becoming a superpower, I think its style will reflect its own culture and history, and its behaviour will be very different to that of Western powers.

We recently celebrated Chinese New Year around the world with the usual exchanges of gifts, gatherings of families and demonstrations of respect.

This is a great model for the win-win philosophy of China's international engagement.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/How-a-Chinese-superpower-may-be-different-30256072.html


-- The Nation 2015-03-16

[Publicus]

The CCP dictators in Beijing know that for the People's Republic of China to become a global power, it must first become a regional power.

This is impossible because of the democracies of the region, specifically, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, Philippines, India and, increasingly, Indonesia. Add Vietnam to the list too which whupped China's butt when the PLA invaded in 1979 then withdrew after gaining nothing.

Bangkok bankers are now entering the global market as whores and as Beijing's bich..

[Ricardo]

China's global influence is much more modest. One reason for this, according to Vanchai, is that unlike Western powers, China didn't colonise any overseas territories.

I think the Tibetans & Mongolians might not totally agree with that ? And what were Chinese troops doing, in Korea or Vietnam, if not attempting to colonise other countries, they were hardly there on a peace-keeping mission ?

[Publicus]

The dictators in Beijing are claiming almost all of the South China Sea, named by European explorers, as a Chinese lake. Despite no legit documentation Beijing intends to own the SCS. Philippines is suing Beijing at the UN Tribunal on the International Law of the Sea but Beijing won't send its lawyers there because it knows it is in violation of the ILOTS despite being a signatory of the Treaty.

The dictators in Beijing are menacing Japan over islands and the East Sea, to include Taiwan which in its presidential election next year is universally expected to elect the pro-independence Democratic Revolutionary Party after the present government spent the past six years becoming Beijing's whore good buddy. Hong Kong is in a partial revolt against Beijing controlling the new elections scheduled for 2017.

India as a part of its recently adopted "Move East" policy signed an agreement with Vietnam over Vietnam's territorial sea in the SCS despite Beijing telling India directly and loudly to stay out of it. India just completed a massive naval and air forces complex in the Andaman Islands to control the Malacca Strait just in case Beijing gets a bit too frisky in the SCS. India and Japan have signed a strategic agreement and for two years now have been doing joint naval exercises in the East Sea and the near Indian Ocean.

Beijing last year withdrew is massive drilling rig from Vietnam's territorial sea EEZ after the US Senate unanimously passed a resolution reaffirming that the SCS is an international commons with almost all Asean countries having a territorial EEZ there.

Malaysia and the US Navy are doing naval exercises together as Beijing tries to encroach on the Malay territorial sea in the SCS. The list gets very long of countries of the Indo-Pacific strategic region who are buying submarines and signing new mutual agreements that have set back the CCP Boyz in Beijing.

[Bkungbank]

Culture already exist here for long time Chinese immigrant already all around the world and many of them a very sucess business on local community as you can see in China town .

In American Chinese food are very popular and Chinese didn't colonise by force like Japan,Britain and America .

In Afgan and Pakistan the local more like Chinese as they don't tell them which president to choose like America does in the past.

Nowdays it's not wise to use bullet but money, biggest bonds

buyer in States is China.

[Johpa]

While I agree that China is on track to becoming a superpower, I think its style will reflect its own culture and history, and its behaviour will be very different to that of Western powers.

We recently celebrated Chinese New Year around the world with the usual exchanges of gifts, gatherings of families and demonstrations of respect.

This is a great model for the win-win philosophy of China's international engagement.

Are you effin kidding me?!? But a nice attempt at apologist propaganda piece from a Hi-So Sino-Thai working for one of the largest and most powerful Sino-Thai financial institutions while proudly announcing that he is Chinese. I'll bet he secretly washes his feet in the communal sink. But for me, I trust the PRC even less than what little trust I have in the corporate controlled "western sphere of influence".

[boomerangutang]

How does China interact with the world? Big topic, worthy of thick books, but here's a thumbnail sketch:

>>> Commandeered Tibet militarily and still rules there with an iron fist. Hundreds of monks and nuns still in dungeons for not thinking properly.

>>> Has hundreds of missiles facing Taiwan from dozens of miles away

>>> Has territorial hassles with Japan, India, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan.

>>> Doesn't have any recognizable brand names ww. Compare that to little Switzerland or Holland.

>>> Doesn't have any do-good int'l organizations, such as Red Cross, Red Crescent, Hope ship, Peace Corps. MSF, etc.

>>> When a country is being bullied, China doesn't step in to assist the oppressed, but it's quick to show up with contracts for raw materials and sales of plastic products, as soon as the smoke gets cleared by democratic western countries.

[Seastallion]

I'm not so sure that Chinese influence is not already global....it's just more subtle.

Every nation on earth has Chinese immigrants, and those immigrants have local influence. Call me a conspiracy nut, but I wouldn't be surprised if the most influential of the immigrants in every country have some Chinese government backing.

[boomerangutang]

In fairness, China had a very rough 20th century. Wars, famine, wars, famine, civil war, self afflicting war (Cultural Revolution). Considering all that, it's truly amazing the Chinese are doing as well as they are currently. However, all the massive suffering and bad decisions of the 20th century can't be erased by the fact that money is now pouring in to the country. China knows it has to clean up its environment. Not just band-aids, but in a concerted way involving all Chinese. They need a perception change in their attitudes about forests and animals. Contrary to Chinese thinking, animals don't exist just to be ingested by our one species (for hardening dicks or otherwise). Forests don't exist just to provide wood for people. Plants and animals exist on their own terms, at least until some Chinese (or their agents) show up to kill them to sell.

Here are is a phrase which Chinese need to embrace, and teach to their children: environmental husbandry.

People can co-exist with thriving forests and living beasts. It doesn't have to be people commandeering everywhere (concrete and asphalt in all directions, as far as the eye can see), and nature just something you see pretty pictures of while staring at your hand-held device or computer. Unfortunately, Thailand is embracing China's world-view. The proof is runaway building in every direction, with not even a thought for a park, let alone natural habitat.

If the world's land masses were covered with concrete buildings and roads, Asians would adapt, with perhaps a few muffled protests.

[squarethecircle]

Another one to the list:

Read on Irrawaddy that just last week a Chinese government sympathizing businessman in Yangoon was tortured and murdered by the police there. Turns out he had some connection with the Kokang rebel groups which killed a couple dozen Myanmar soldiers. Seems like Thailand is alone in SE Asia in kissing up to the Chinaman, unfortunate because Hans consider Thais to be their slaves.

[EnglishJohn]

If/when China is a real superpower, the USA haters here will really have something to complain about.

No doubt their venom will still be directed at the USA for allowing it to happen.

[FangFerang]

Reading the Western diatribes and flames, it is obvious the Chinese scare the hell out of everyone.

[KhnomKhnom]

Red China's record in Tibet is a signal to the world........ intimidate and control Tibet leaders (got concessions agreement first), then armed invasion and take over, then begin draconian repression on local people and attempt to destroy local culture and religion, and finally to send in their own Han to dominate the population numbers there. Result, Red China likes to claim it owns Tibet and certainly it occupies and controls it.

That pattern can be seen now in Nepal and in their far west. They will overtake Burma and Lao in the same way, but maybe not even needing military invasion. Red Chinese license plates now seen in CM and North Thailand--TAKING A DRIVING TRIP TO THAILAND !!!!

I doubt Thai hate of Chinese will work to resist them nibbling for new territory, but maybe VN can hold out longer. South China Sea is soon controlled by Red China--who will oppose effectively??

Unfortunately for Red China to be a superpower in this definition here is the fact that communism, even their brand of market communism, has no central dogma that creates inspired belief; it is empty of heart and a heart-felt core. Their culture for export thus is empty of emotion; as Russia showed, it is difficult to get people to take "all share and work to ability and receive as need" as a deep belief system. America, on the other hand, has Christianity, democracy, and "all people are equal" as core values which people take to their hearts. The export of that Americanism is the third leg of making America a superpower. Red China has only the cult of personality (big uncle, great leader) and nebulous other beliefs which will not export well.

Huge rock, TV, and movie stars already occupy the world's cult of personality so little room for Xi, Mao, or Pol Pot, and those stars belong to America, and lesser today to K Pop.

This is why the coming domination of Red China is so horrid.... it has no heart and thus can only control by armed repression, not by ideals. Armed occupation has been shown not to work well in the long term but in the short term, it creates a hell on earth for local populations.

[Benmart]

The CCP dictators in Beijing know that for the People's Republic of China to become a global power, it must first become a regional power.

This is impossible because of the democracies of the region, specifically, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, Philippines, India and, increasingly, Indonesia. Add Vietnam to the list too which whupped China's butt when the PLA invaded in 1979 then withdrew after gaining nothing.

Bangkok bankers are now entering the global market as whores and as Beijing's bich..

The last sentence soured the previous words into obscurity.

Other words that I may have used...pawns, dupes, puppets, concubine, etc. Perhaps not as sensational, but they may help keep the momentum of the thought on track.

[FangFerang]

If/when China is a real superpower, the USA haters here will really have something to complain about.

No doubt their venom will still be directed at the USA for allowing it to happen.

I agree. It is hilariously idiotic that people who personally hold US citizens responsible for the stupidities of the US government also pretend that their own governments are either blameless or "just vollowing orders" Gestapo-style from the US...

What a gutless piss joke. If you cannot stop the stupid crap your own government does, why do you think US citizens can?

In the US many say: I love my country but I hate my government.

and

The US has the best government money can buy.

Take it to heart -- just because we are aware of stupidity does not mean we can stop it, Bush the Lesser being a case in point. When the lies that sent the world marching to Iraq came to glaring light, Bush's party lost the next round. Best we can do is, like that, flush the crap down the electoral toilet and hope for cleaner water on the refill.

[granuaile]

China is set to become the superpower of the 21st century, as the old superpowers fade... It's just the nature of things, and it is time for Asia to take the lead...

[does]

I consider a "super power" as a "roque power" able to dictate its will on most of the rest of the world.

If China get enough influence to put en end to roque power, that's good enough for me.

[Howitzer]

The CCP dictators in Beijing know that for the People's Republic of China to become a global power, it must first become a regional power.

This is impossible because of the democracies of the region, specifically, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, Philippines, India and, increasingly, Indonesia. Add Vietnam to the list too which whupped China's butt when the PLA invaded in 1979 then withdrew after gaining nothing.

Bangkok bankers are now entering the global market as whores and as Beijing's bich..

You sound really hurt about this.

[retarius]

Us's Rome to China's Carthage.

[Rancid]

Superpowers inevitably become bullies enslaving other nations and stealing resources.

China has a better history than Europe and US, but would it stay that way? They also have a raft of financial problems like the West from money printing, hard to see how this will all play out.

There is also the possibility of a new US war with Russia and China, maybe there'll no one left to worry about it all.

[Publicus]

China is set to become the superpower of the 21st century, as the old superpowers fade... It's just the nature of things, and it is time for Asia to take the lead...

The "nature of things" is that Beijing CCP state corporate market socialism is no different from Soviet CCCP state corporatism.

The Soviet one failed, the Chinese one is failing. Relative to the West, the PRChinese consumer economy now is at approximately the Soviet Union consumer economy then.

That is the "nature of things."

Asia anyway will not be dominated by anyone as there are too many centers of national power, from Japan and South Korea to Taiwan, Asean, Australia, India, Iran, Egypt, throw in Israel-US, Turkey, Russia, Nato, EU. Investors for instance are lining up to enter Iran and the mullahs are laying out the carpets for 'em while China, Russia, India can only look on and hustle to join the queque.

If Beijing commits to emergency loan assistance and currency support of Russia as it is now seriously considering, it will fracture Asia all the more and also expose the collapsing CCP economy to Russian default.

Nobody is rising and nobody is falling. Everything is moving sideways in both directions simultaneously which in the 21st century is much better for everyone.

Edited March 16, 2015 by Publicus

[Enoon]

"When China Rules the World: The End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order"

by Martin Jacques, pub. 2009, 2012, Penguin.

Not a comforting read.

Edited March 16, 2015 by Enoon

[Srikcir]

When one considers how a Chinese superpower may be different from other superpowers, one might also ask the same about India, the largest democracy in the world. The answer to who China is may be found in who India is.

India has largely remained a "backwater" state despite having one of the world's largest GDP, population, and cultural integrity for hundreds of years. Yet, the only imperialism we have seen from India is its interest in tiny Kashmir where there is a historical precedence for India interests. There are parallels with China.

India is a China on transcendantal meditation. Many of its contrast are its similarities.But India has a civilian-ruled powerhouse of democratic governance, military and industrial complex that could dominate all of Asian on par with China. While it shares borders with two nuclear armed nations, it has not used threat of nuclear hostility to promote foreign policy nor has it attracted nuclear threats. In fact foreign relations between India and China are so nonexistant one would think the two countries are in opposite sides of the planet!

So it seems India and China share some kind of expansionist restraint and unity of governance that does not require foreign interaction to be sustained. They both share a sense of self-determination. If that remains for the near future without major intercontinental wars, India and China may ultimately have a shared superpower status comparable to the US-Canada and UK-EU partnerships. I hope that the people of China can presevere through China's growing pains to bring it into a true superpower.

[ggt]

Rather than establish colonies, China set up a tribute system - in return for access to the Chinese market and protection, neighbours were required to give gifts to acknowledge China's superiority.

In most civilized counties this is called...extortion...which is a criminal offense...

[boomerangutang]

Reading the Western diatribes and flames, it is obvious the Chinese scare the hell out of everyone.

They don't scare the hell out of me, but am concerned. Much as I would be concerned about a house built on a mudflat instead of a solid foundation. The sheer weight of China, like trillion ton sumo wrestler, is sobering. Already, some of their pollution is traveling along the prevailing winds to north America. China is by far the biggest contributor to the Great Pacific Trash Vortex: a Texas-sized plastic goop, about 3 meters thick, which is suspended in the north Pacific. It's entirely composed of decomposing plastic. However, the plastic will never completely decompose, so the Pacific is left with a billion tons of goop - which affects every living thing, from protozoa to plankton to whales to people. Will China ever lift a finger to start cleaning it up? No way. They don't even acknowledge it exists. It's indicative of China's attitude to the world. A farang friend said to me last week, "China is sucking up all the oxygen in the world." I don't see it that bad, but it's an interesting picture he painted in one sentence.

I see it more like the Sumo wrestler (yes, I know Sumo is native to Japan). In the s. China Sea for example: China is in no hurry. It won't back down and it knows it will prevail eventually. The other countries are like 150 lb wrestlers and China is like a 900 pounder. All it has to do is lean, and lean, and lean some more, .....and the others will get smothered on the ground, one by one.

Us's Rome to China's Carthage.

Interesting comparison. Romans contributed a whole heck of a lot more to advancement of civilization than Carthaginians did.

[Paulc01]

China is polluted, corrupt, and its leaders terrified that its population will eventually take to the streets. Long before it becomes a "superpower," it will crumble.

[copa8]

China is polluted, corrupt, and its leaders terrified that its population will eventually take to the streets. Long before it becomes a "superpower," it will crumble.

another wet dream. keep masturbating son.

[sdanielmcev]

I can't see China becoming a superpower. I don't see them swinging their economic weight anywhere.

[Publicus]

The CCP is losing economic weight rapidly as capital both foreign and domestic continues to flee the country.

Reported growth has gone below 7% but in reality is less than 5% while Nomura Securities says anything below 5% is for the PRChina equivalent to recession. Middle class college grads are lucky to get a job as a doorman and have to share 6 to 8 in a two room fleatrap apartment, creating the Chinglish word "antizen."

The deflation spiral is continuing and will breach during H1 this year, meaning the early onset of economic emaciation. Trouble is with this economic weight loss, no one knows where or when it will stop after emaciation sets in. The global consensus says 2016 should be the breaking point of the new middle class of some 500 million (upper, middle, lower).

The new middle class is described as a "sensitive" socio-economic group that is highly political. They are seething that their environment is completely fouled, they can't make ends meet, are massively in debt but have little to show for it, houses and cars are astronomically expensive, corruption rules, detested Japan is too rich to fail, they paid a fortune for their kids to graduate university but can't find jobs, business is slow and getting slower, health care remains out of pocket and expensive while doctors grump and grouch about their pay and long hours, pension plans are too far away to be reliable or viable.....and so much more that the CCP fears the sensitive have become the angry.

Indeed, PRChinese from the CCP to the ordinary citizen are exasperated that so many Chinese who prosper bail out to a Western country, principally Australia, Canada, USA, Med countries and Scandinavian cradle to grave states (nobody migrates to Russia). One important factor is that the People's Republic of China is a cultural and recreational wasteland full of patriotic programming and songs. The PRChinese in their adaptive Chinglish call it the "washed brain." Not all of 'em say that, but a lot of 'em spit it out as they get red in the face and hot under the collar.

The fraying is becoming a disintegration.

[NeverSure]

China will fail. It is just another communist country with a ruthless dictatorship - a model in a long line of failures.

These communist dictatorships start out with one thing in common. They start out poor and remain poor when compared to the wealthier western countries. This is an historical repeating model with a track record of failure.

They have another thing in common. They fail to create enough new wealth for the masses. China has masses of the dirt poor.

No government has ever supported its people. People have to support the government. The Chinese have no means to support the government because the masses don't have access to the means of production. Any small minority of the people which has benefited from the China model in the past few decades is just that - a small minority. Even that minority is now losing ground.

In one ear I hear the communist dictator cheerleaders, and in my other ear I hear the sound of breaking glass. If China was transparent about its finances it would already be belly up.