27Jul/082
No Superpower Status for China?
Washington Post's China-hand John Pomfret argues, somewhat persuasively, that China's internal problems will prevent its rise to superpower status. While I don't agree with all of his points, Pomfret is spot-on in one aspect: the perception in the West of China as a menacing juggernaut overtaking the world remains vastly overstated.
July 27th, 2008 - 22:19
The notion that China is becoming the next superpower is completely western. The Chinese themselves never claim that they are going to be a superpower. They know better. I hope the western governments/think tanks/experts will read Promfet’s piece and give China a break and leave the Chinese alone.
By the way, John Pomfret, despite his claim that he is not a China-basher (probably not one if you compare him to nuts like Bill Gertz, Steven Mosher, Ross Munroe and Peter Navarro etc.), has always painted China in a very negative stroke. I am just one of those people who are glad that he left. Enjoy LA.
July 30th, 2008 - 20:44
“The Chinese themselves never claim that they are going to be a superpower.”
Pffefer, what have you been smoking? Haven’t you heard the Chinese phrase that “the 21st century belongs to China”? Many Chinese today already talk as if China is the world’s superpower.