China has a bustling economy and will continue to grow and
eventually surpass the United States as the number one super power or hegemon
in terms of economy and military power in the world within the next 50 years. The
United States dependency on Chinese production of goods has become globally
recognized, and will pose a problem to the U.S. current status quo in the long
run. The United States owes China alone an estimated 1.3 trillion dollars,
which is not an insurmountable debt but a substantial one nonetheless. I will
argue that this is a result of America’s over-reliance on other country’s
resources but more importantly it’s expectancy that a democratic foreign policy
will always work in the U.S favor. Furthermore none of the surrounding states
in Asia will be able to pose a significant enough obstacle to halt China’s
progression.
The United States is well aware that China is emerging as a
dominant world economy and as an upcoming military force. This is evident with
the amount of U.S. troops that surround the immediate states within North East
Asia. I agree with Mearsheimer’s view on how China’s military and economy will
surpass Japan in the next decade or two. Even with China’s one child per
household limit, China’s population far outweighs Russia and Japan, and will
only continue growing. It is not a matter of whether China will eventually be
the dominant force or not, but rather when will this event occur. With the U.S.
far outspending any country when it comes to military, people would argue that
no one could possibly pose a significant threat to the U.S. current standing.
However I would like to point out the fact that with China’s current system of
cheap labor, it is very possible for China to catch up and surpass the U.S. in
terms of nuclear weapons possessed. Yes China relies heavily on the U.S. as a
customer to sell their products to but that in no way negates the fact that as
China produces more goods its growth continues to skyrocket. I would argue that
the U.S. dependency on oil and the outsourcing of jobs for cheap labor will
haunt us in the long run.
If you closely observe the U.S.
foreign policies, it is obvious that the U.S. has no intentions of trying to
force a democratic system of government in China or any state in North East
Asia for that matter. The United Sates knows that even with its advanced
military systems and European allies it would still be a foolhardy mission
simply because of the repercussions it would have to face. The U.S. is already
dealing with ISIS, and trying to establish credible democracy in the
Middle-Eastern states. Also President Obama has sent 40,000 troops to Africa
under the guise of dealing with the Ebola crisis. The purpose of references
these two points is so people can understand that the U.S. has it’s plate is
already full so to speak, and with an economy that has seen better days, it is
unlikely that China’s progression is something that the U.S. can contain.
Because the U.S. has a history of being frontrunners in the field of
humanitarian work, the world’s dominant power now finds itself in an
interesting position. The U.S. needs to decide whether their motives for
continuing to dabble in other countries affair is worth allowing China to
advance it’s progress and eventually overtake the number one spot.
There is no doubt that China is rising, whether they will become or even want to become a global superpower that plays a substantial hegemonic role is unclear. China is interesting, unlike the U.S. , U.K., and the majority of western powers, China is not a democracy. When an election is held in the west the party or politician that wins receives a mandate from the people, specifically a mandated foreign policy that for citizens in the US, has far reaching consequences. China last mandate to rule came half a century ago after civil war. Its one party government has to rule over this dynamic nation of 1 billion. It is not clear if China will be able to legitimize an expansive foreign policy and military budget when it must balance the needs and aspiration of one billion literate Chinese’s citizens without a voice.
ReplyDeleteHowever assuming their military does increase and they embrace a position of hegemonic power in the world. In this case I foresee the US to become a lot like Britain, no longer a global superpower but still has a great amount of influence in the world, and due to societal, political, and economic ties Britain has to the rest of the world, it feels obligated to play a role in negotiations and military efforts around the world. Although the U.K. may not play the leading role it certainty plays a role and a role that its citizens come to expect. In the United States, although there are not a billion citizens here yet, we should not be selling ourselves short. Our massive amount of natural resources and large population, 315 million people and growing, will leave us secure and influential in the world.
China is rapidly growing and there is definitely a chance that they will surpass the United States as the superpower in the world. I agree that one of reasons this may occur is because the United States over reliance on other nations for resources. In economic terms, China will surpass the United States in power over the next few years. Even if the United States isn’t a superpower in the future I still believe that the United States will be very influential in the international world. If China does become a superpower I believe they won’t intervene with many conflicts like the United States. I think that will still give power to the United States as we’ll still be influential over how to deal with issues around the world. Also, I do agree that the United States won’t try to force a democratic system on China considering what the government has to deal with now.
ReplyDeleteI agree that China is a rising superpower. The interesting thing to me is the cultural differences between them and western countries. Their dedication to their religion, history and values surpasses that of average American citizens dramatically. Americans don't think as much about honor, respect and integrity as much as far eastern cultures do, and this commitment to their values should be considered when talking about their possible political actions. Although they are doing things such as establishing themselves as an economic world power and growing their military, many of their actions are deeply rooted in their tradition and values. In my opinion, understanding these values and learning about their culture will help us predict their future actions.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your analysis of China's rise to becoming an international superpower, but I also think the cultural aspect should not be overlooked. It is important to take into account a countries culture, since that affects their values and the way they act to others.