The Placid Panda Roars
China is displeased. Somehow it seems that China is forever irritated, agitated, enraged by the actions of other countries. Somehow other countries seem to stumble unceasingly into insulting China. And this China has clout, economic and political power. Enough so that trading nations and those nations indebted to that giant cauldron of entrepreneurship tend to tread softly and brandish a white flag.Oops, the U.S. Pentagon has approved the sale of two mine sweepers, 114 Patriot anti-missile missiles, 12 Harpoon anti-ship missiles and 60 Black Hawk helicopters to ... Taiwan ...? "Our action regarding Taiwan reinforces our commitment to stability in the region", claimed a U.S. State Department spokesperson, not even blushing through the newspaper article. Stability in the region? surely they jest.
Ah, "We know China has a different view." Why yes, oh yes, they most certainly do.
From where they sit this is a dreadful conspiracy, and their view has made them lividly cranky. "From now on, the U.S. shall not expect co-operation from China on a wide range of major regional and international issues", huffed the China Daily newspaper. "If you don't care about our interests, why should we care about yours?"
As though trade imbalances and arguments over trade duties and the value of the Chinese yuan effectively restricting U.S. exports to China isn't enough. China's irritation with its competitors on the world stage certainly extends beyond the U.S. It has its arguments with India as well over territory.
And its intransigent position with respect to sanctions against Iran and fury over defiance from within the international community conferring diplomatic respect for the Dalai Lama has it sizzling with frustrated rage. China's political elite feel sufficiently cocky to snub the new American president. And he hasn't even met with the Dali Lama yet, although he is slated to.
But then there's this ace up the Chinese sleeve: "If the U.S. leader chooses this time to meet the Dalai Lama, that would damage trust and co-operation between our two countries, and how would that help the United States surmount the current economic crisis", slyly, archly suggested a vice-minister of the country's Communist Party.
Other than the fact that China is the U.S.'s largest creditor, why should they care? Particularly since China is itself a trifle concerned over the security of its massive investment in the U.S. economy as the American government's largest creditor with $1-trillion in American Treasury bonds.
Just offering a bit of friendly advice, albeit advisedly concerned.
Labels: China, Economy, United States
posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, February 03, 2010
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