Was the financial crisis of 2008 a global turning point? Did it mark the earliest stage in the decline of US power? Will historians view the financial crisis and the Great Recession as the beginning of a multi-polar world?
StrategyOne explored this issue further by using its proprietary Beltway Barometer survey to track elite Washington opinions on the subject.
The data we collected over two years and across three survey waves paints a picture of Washington’s elite attempting to contextualize the financial crisis and global recession.
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When will China lead the world? Don’t hold your breath.
During his trip to Asia in November, Barack Obama seemed strangely mute. Unlike Bill Clinton, who criticized China’s human rights record in front of then-president Jiang Zemin, Obama largely avoided the topic of rights. In Singapore, despite pressure from human rights activists, the president deferred to pressure to not release a statement calling for the freeing of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. In Japan, the president worked valiantly to massage local sentiments, bowing deeply to Emperor Akihito – and drawing flak back in the United States from conservative critics for appearing weak.
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The growth of imported goods from China is much higher
The free trade agreement between the ASEAN countries and China has enabled China to increase its domination in the ASEAN market.
Last month, when free trade was in effect, Chinese products were invading the country. More and more boats carrying China-made products harbor at Tanjung Priok, Jakarta. In January, there was an estimated 30 boats harbored at the Indonesia’s biggest port. The number doubled than last year when there were only 18 boats stopped at Tanjung Priok.
Even before the agreement was implemented in early January this year, China’s power in the region has been increasing, especially in Indonesia.
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China’s tough response on US arms sales to Taiwan reflects the shift in the global balance of power
The Chinese response to the decision of the United States to sell a $6.bn arms package to Taiwan represents a small but significant raising of the ante. The Chinese have partially halted the military exchange programme between the two countries, only recently resumed following a suspension after the last such military package in 2008. This time the Chinese have also threatened to impose sanctions against the US firms involved in the deal. This is causing serious disquiet among firms like Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
Taiwan, of course, is of special significance to the Chinese; since 1949 the return of the island to China has been seen as an overriding priority. Beijing regards Taiwan as an internal Chinese issue, and the US arms sales are therefore regarded as interference in China’s internal affairs and a violation of its sovereignty. When the pro-independence DPP held office in Taiwan, China’s relations with the island were fraught; but with the victory of the more moderate KMT, they have improved immeasurably and some kind of reconciliation between China and Taiwan is now conceivable. This has made the Chinese more confident in their handling of the Taiwan issue.
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During his first trip to China recently, Barack Obama was excoriated by pundits for his meekness on a host of issues, from Tibet to exchange rates to human rights. Newspaper commentary in the United States went on endlessly about the curtailment of American influence in an age where a fast-rising China has become this country’s main creditor. The event that supposedly crystallized all of this was the American-style town hall meeting the president had planned, but which the Chinese government appeared to control. In the end, Obama was limited to a stilted forum with an audience of carefully screened and coached students, and a previously negotiated national television audience was denied him.
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I happened to be on the same flight from D.C. to Zurich as Larry Summers, who was reading Martin Jacques’ weighty tome, “When China Rules the World. His review: “Interesting…and disturbing.”
Because of a jam-packed week, my time at this year’s World Economic Forum was limited. But as is always the case with Davos, there were more than a few snapshot-worthy moments.
Things got off to an interesting start before I even arrived. I happened to be on the same flight from D.C. to Zurich as Larry Summers, who was reading Martin Jacques’ weighty tome, “When China Rules the World. His review: “Interesting…and disturbing.”
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2009年12月，《纽约时报》特约书评撰稿人约瑟夫·卡恩和谷美智子分别在这一享誉世界的报纸中针对《当中国统治世界》发表了题为“巨龙的觉醒”和“中国对世界的影响将超过中国？”两篇文章。《纽约时报》是一家全球发行的报纸，在整个世界有着巨大的影响力，其严谨程度在业界具有极高的知名度。就一本书而言，想要在《纽约时报》上发表一篇与之相关的书评，比登天还难，那就更不用说在一个月内连续出现两篇这样的书评了。更让人称奇的是，这两位撰稿人对《当中国统治世界》一书的评价分歧之大，实为罕见。
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这是一部震惊了西方世界的书：书稿还在创作阶段就已经引起了西方媒体的一片沸腾，它们都在关心——究竟中国能不能统治世界?中国统治世界的力量是什么?这更是一部震惊了中国的书：在英文版出版后，作者马丁·雅克在中国的旋风之旅已然在各大媒体呈现遍地开花之势，赞美、反思甚至大加挞伐之声不绝于耳，而更多的读者则关心——这部书的中文简体版到底什么时候出版?
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