The China Threat?

I’ve actually been told by other Americans that I’m “helping the enemy” by living and working in China. Are Americans really that insecure or really that stupid?I’m by no means in love with China, but by the same token, China is no threat. In my opinion, the biggest threats facing America today are our collective lack of international education, our debt and our entitlement mentality. North Korea, maybe. But not China.I’m convinced that increased engagement is the best international policy that the US can take. International exposure and competition can’t hurt the US and will only increase our ability to continue to project influence into the foreseeable future. In the light, China is an opportunity that Americans can either profit from now or pay for later.News reports regularly confirm that the most competitive US companies are doing what the US government will not—participate in Chinese growth. While Congressmen continue to argue over Taiwan (do you really think that we step into a cross straights fight at this point?), currency devaluations, security and piracy, other US companies are plowing ahead and solving problems or eliminating conflicts on their own—and making billions in the process. These companies are making it financially painful for either the Chinese or US governments to have any type of military conflict.Whatever your thoughts about Wal-Mart’s labor history are their growth in China is another example of the codependence and financial sense of the US/China relationship. Wal-Mart will have 80 stores in China by the end of the year and would be the China’s 5th largest trading partner if it was a country. Other visible US companies that are “aiding and abiding” include Visa, McDonald’s, Coca Cola, Pepsi Co. (KFC, Pepsi, Pizza Hut), Starbucks, Buick—these are just the ones you can see everywhere, everyday in China. And AmCham says that the growth of American business in China will double this year—smart money! Next year I expect to add scores of US and foreign banks to this “visible” companies list.The fact is that China is a great opportunity for anyone in the world, but especially the US. US and Western European educated professionals can, according to one recent news report, have their pick of jobs while 65% of graduates from Chinese universities will be un or under employed this year alone. The ascension of China to WTO standards will only bring more opportunities for US companies who are already WTO compliant by nature of US business/governmental standards.But the US government and educational systems continue to shackle the US and its future generations. Why do we still only get Spanish, French and German offered as foreign languages in high school? WWII ended 60 years ago—get over Western Europe already! US business is innovative and adaptable; that’s what’s made it us the biggest economy in the history of the world. So why is the pre-collegiate education system so archaic? Why is it that most US students can’t find China on the map but Chinese students can name the US president, and typically read some English by Junior High?Not only are we generally under internationally educated but the restrictive visa policy of the US makes further contact, professional exchange and even legal immigration more difficult than necessary. The US government is bad for US businesses—unless you are your senator’s pet pork project. So much for free trade.To those who think China is a growing threat to the US (and can actually find China on a map), I just have a couple of questions. First, how does a strong Chinese economy hurt the US? It doesn’t—rich Chinese people buy US production and travel to the US. More Chinese businesses use more Western developed tech and buy more Western materials/goods. US companies wish the rest of the world would grow as fast as the China market.Second, is a balance of military power more or less likely to force a confrontation? If history, even recent history, is a forecast of the future, we are more likely to head back to the Middle East as the loan super power than the Eastern Asia in a “balanced” world. And the dirty secret of cold wars is they can be financial and technological bonanzas for participating economies. If the European Union was growing at 10% a year would be scared because Italy and Germany and some former Soviet republics are members? Besides, what country, the US included, doesn’t want to be more “powerful” and have more influence?China is growing fast but it is not a physical or financial threat to the US today. Nor will it be in the coming decade. But, China is a threat to people in the US that are scared of change, are scared of competition or are undereducated. The US needs to get over it’s self.