The Arrogance of Chinese Power

According to CIA estimates, China has the largest population, the largest labor force, the greatest number of people fit for military service and the third largest GDP at purchasing power parity. In addition to its massive, sustained economic and military growth, the nation plays an increasingly prominent role in international relations. The US, burdened by debt and two ongoing wars, hesitates to press an emboldened China on trade-policy reforms that might curb imbalances or ease competition over key natural resources. Professor and author Brahma Chellaney briefly compares the approach to international affairs by China and Japan, and concludes that China, by emphasizing military might before economic matters, commands greater respect from world powers in the short term. Yet association with renegade regimes, fast-changing fortunes, and arrogance on the part of China’s leaders or the Chinese people could derail the nation on its fast track toward global ascendance. – YaleGlobal