China, the new kid on the block. Foe or ally?

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

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The Sticks, Northeast PA.
Post WWII, every other industrial nation was devastated and in total ruin. Only the US had the "Bomb". That was 80 years ago. Most nations have rebuilt their infrastructure. And lot's of nations have the 'bomb'. Now, China has emerged as the new kid on the block. How does the West treat China-foe or ally?
 

It would be an oversimplification to categorize the relationship between China and the United States as friends or foes. Certainly they have an uneasy peace, but they're more or less compelled to find ways to selectively cooperate, due to trade reliance and economic interdependence.
 
The CCP is no one's friend. But there is hope that the US and China can be mutually fair and friendly after the fall of the CCP.

That friendship probably won't happen quickly, though. China's youth needs time to convince China's older, thoroughly brainwashed population that the US is not their #1 mortal enemy. But maybe I'm underestimating China's youth.
 
I don't see them as friend or foe. We have become so dependent on each other, that decoupling would be simply unrealistic, if not impossible, so it becomes one of managing a working relationship. We will always be in competition and probably at odds over many things like human rights, trade practices, and territorial claims. In a situation like that, all we can do is try to convince them that cooperation is likely to yield better results than confrontations.
 
China is a friend, and an enemy.

As a friend they have provided cheap labor, which a very large part of western world have benefited from. You can bet that there are Made in China products in your home. If you're an investor, that you've benefited from Chinese based dividends, etc.

As an enemy, they continue to trade with enemies (such as Russia). They steal tech, and copyright laws mean nothing to them.

Oh, and it goes without saying, their people are controlled by the government at levels we can't comprehend.

We allowed this to happen because a) we wanted more profit; b) It's a huge potential market for products and services. As such, we have excused a multitude of sins.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
Post WWII, every other industrial nation was devastated and in total ruin. Only the US had the "Bomb". That was 80 years ago. Most nations have rebuilt their infrastructure. And lot's of nations have the 'bomb'. Now, China has emerged as the new kid on the block. How does the West treat China-foe or ally?
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Neither, I'd say. They're a world power that has aims that do not align with ours. This doesn't necessarily make them our enemy, but we sure as hell aren't pals.

Now, if they're ever going to take back Taiwan, it has to be within this decade (for very real economic and demographic reasons), and at that point we WILL be enemies. However, their nuclear policy is the same as our own (only launch if fired on first or physical invasion of home territory), so it is not an existential threat.

Right now they mostly manufacture things we can't be bothered to manufacture on account of the margins aren't good enough.
 
My elder daughter teaches / mentors a large number of Chinese students through their university studies in the UK. I asked her how they felt about politics and China's relationship with the rest of the world. She said they don't care about such things. Their aim is to learn good English, get a recognised degree from a good university and this would enable them to get a good job anywhere in the world.

She added that many were from wealthier families and there was a lot of pressure on them to be successful.
 

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