China's new-found arrogance
Mourad Anouar
Sunday February 19, 2012
Bill Weir should be proud of being the first journalist that was given an exclusive access to go inside apple’s factories in shanghai china to see how these company workers make one of the world’s favorite gadgets.
Weir’s “investigative-like trip” to China-based Apple would not have happened without a lawsuit from a local firm against the giant electronic company over safety problems, hazardous conditions and underage workers all happened be within in the confines of the giant gadget manufacturer.
To this point, it seems nothing is wrong with the fact that china is worried about its citizens working for Apple’s and the conditions in which they carry out their jobs. But, one should ask the legitimate question: why is china concerned about its citizens more now than ever before?
No doubt these work malpractices have been around in china for years. But what was absent is a louder and confident voice to decry them. Now, the growing and tangible power exercised by China is undeniable. Beijing is intent on stretching out its muscles to all directions in attempt to vaunt and show the world that it is as strong as any other super-power, or possibly stronger.
The title of this article is a quote from one of Fareed Zakaria’s articles in Newsweek magazine entitled” growing pains” published in Feb 5, 2010. The article addressed the crisis between China and the United States and focused more on three salient points:
1-The China’s furious reactions to Obama administrations’ decision to sell arms to Taiwan,
2-China’s threat to "retaliate" against U.S. companies involved in arms sales,
3-And Beijing’s indignant reaction to President Obama's decision to meet with the Dalai Lama
The unprecedented overreaction from China was seen by the writer as symbolic gestures which indeed spelled, as he concluded, the growing perception and arrogance in China that is no longer reliant on the West, in particular on America.
I would not argue if Zakaria’s “witty conclusion” has some validity or not, but nobody would overlook the Chinese presence on the international level. To label that as “a newfound arrogance” surely requires the writer to back up his assumption with some sort of a “psychological diagnosis”
Obviously, Beijing has been lately concerned about being accepted into the world community as a superpower, though not much as the only superpower on the scene, but one within the whole. One of the manifestations of China’s muscle is its growing interest in investing in Africa and Middle East. Evident enough, on the other hand, is that the United States’ golden era along with its global dominance that it has enjoyed over the last thirty years seems to be fading away as some scholars observed. The world with one Super Power tends to be bygone days. It is time, many think, to embrace more new players to take part in reshaping the world political system in a way completely different from how it used to be.
There are certainly new emerging powers that are hardly unnoticeable. China, India and Brazil to mention few, are by many accounts regarded to be vying with the United States for a new definition and dimensions of the world system. They might be political and leadership-wise naïve, but I don’t reckon they would not give it a try. It is worth pointing out also that an undemocratic regime, like China’s, where many despotic practices are part of the current government does not have credibility and goodwill, as perceived internationally, to lead the world
Where is the United States after all this? It is there, I believe. And because the United States undoubtedly represents a myriad of assets, values, and principles, it is unlikely to cede the world political battlefield in any foreseeable future.
Still America’s treasured and meritorious commodity is its unsurpassed concept and application of democracy and freedom. This cherished blessing is enjoyed just home though while many countries around the world are still struggling toward this dream. Overseas America’s image is bad enough, even worse than you may think. The only way, I believe, America can mend its battered image is by promoting democracy worldwide and helping the people striving to it” to touch it, not just hear it.”
One sapient reasoning to what might be perceived by Zakaria as arrogance on the part of China is what was tersely put in an article published by the China Post in which writer William Choong said” Strong arrogance is not necessarily bad; but weak arrogance is not necessarily good”
References
http://www.fareedzakaria.com/home/Articles/Entries/2010/2/15_Growing_Pains.html
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/commentary/the-china-post/special-to-the-china-post/2010/03/17/248646/p2/Is-China.htm
To this point, it seems nothing is wrong with the fact that china is worried about its citizens working for Apple’s and the conditions in which they carry out their jobs. But, one should ask the legitimate question: why is china concerned about its citizens more now than ever before?
No doubt these work malpractices have been around in china for years. But what was absent is a louder and confident voice to decry them. Now, the growing and tangible power exercised by China is undeniable. Beijing is intent on stretching out its muscles to all directions in attempt to vaunt and show the world that it is as strong as any other super-power, or possibly stronger.
The title of this article is a quote from one of Fareed Zakaria’s articles in Newsweek magazine entitled” growing pains” published in Feb 5, 2010. The article addressed the crisis between China and the United States and focused more on three salient points:
1-The China’s furious reactions to Obama administrations’ decision to sell arms to Taiwan,
2-China’s threat to "retaliate" against U.S. companies involved in arms sales,
3-And Beijing’s indignant reaction to President Obama's decision to meet with the Dalai Lama
The unprecedented overreaction from China was seen by the writer as symbolic gestures which indeed spelled, as he concluded, the growing perception and arrogance in China that is no longer reliant on the West, in particular on America.
I would not argue if Zakaria’s “witty conclusion” has some validity or not, but nobody would overlook the Chinese presence on the international level. To label that as “a newfound arrogance” surely requires the writer to back up his assumption with some sort of a “psychological diagnosis”
Obviously, Beijing has been lately concerned about being accepted into the world community as a superpower, though not much as the only superpower on the scene, but one within the whole. One of the manifestations of China’s muscle is its growing interest in investing in Africa and Middle East. Evident enough, on the other hand, is that the United States’ golden era along with its global dominance that it has enjoyed over the last thirty years seems to be fading away as some scholars observed. The world with one Super Power tends to be bygone days. It is time, many think, to embrace more new players to take part in reshaping the world political system in a way completely different from how it used to be.
There are certainly new emerging powers that are hardly unnoticeable. China, India and Brazil to mention few, are by many accounts regarded to be vying with the United States for a new definition and dimensions of the world system. They might be political and leadership-wise naïve, but I don’t reckon they would not give it a try. It is worth pointing out also that an undemocratic regime, like China’s, where many despotic practices are part of the current government does not have credibility and goodwill, as perceived internationally, to lead the world
Where is the United States after all this? It is there, I believe. And because the United States undoubtedly represents a myriad of assets, values, and principles, it is unlikely to cede the world political battlefield in any foreseeable future.
Still America’s treasured and meritorious commodity is its unsurpassed concept and application of democracy and freedom. This cherished blessing is enjoyed just home though while many countries around the world are still struggling toward this dream. Overseas America’s image is bad enough, even worse than you may think. The only way, I believe, America can mend its battered image is by promoting democracy worldwide and helping the people striving to it” to touch it, not just hear it.”
One sapient reasoning to what might be perceived by Zakaria as arrogance on the part of China is what was tersely put in an article published by the China Post in which writer William Choong said” Strong arrogance is not necessarily bad; but weak arrogance is not necessarily good”
References
http://www.fareedzakaria.com/home/Articles/Entries/2010/2/15_Growing_Pains.html
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/commentary/the-china-post/special-to-the-china-post/2010/03/17/248646/p2/Is-China.htm
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