Our operative in Asia (or Wisconsin, depending on the day...) has a take on the PRChina situation:
The U.S., which is dependent on China for cheap goods has legitimate concerns with China which should take the forefront of the discussions with Mr. Bush. Namely, it's time for China to step up in taking ownership of major world issues, i.e. terrorism, nukes in Iran and North Korea and intellectual property rights. China today is, in many ways, like the little dog who chased the car and caught up to it at a stoplight….."Now that I've caught it, what do I do?" China believes that it has obtained legitimacy in the world by hosting the 2008 summer Olympics. It hasn't. It can only obtain legitimacy by ACTING as a world citizen and focusing on how to maintain it's own status quo in the new world.
True. Of course, some of us would argue that PRChina has, indeed, "acted" as a world citizen--and acted very badly. (See posts below.)
It's also clear that PRC has another problem: India. For years, PRC has been aware that India is, potentially, its most significant opponent for South Asian hegemony--it is now clear that India may well be its most significant opponent in the "outsourcing" arena.
As Asian Badger also remarks, India has and enforces IP laws...and the labor is cheap, too.
Besides, India does not traffic in body parts...
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This is actually my professional area, so I don't talk much about it b/c I operate under a nondisclosure agreement. I will say this, though: the thing to watch to know how this conference -really- turned out will be what Bush says, either today or tomorrow, about Taiwan.
If Bush says that he or the United States "opposes" Taiwan's independence, a deal has been cut with China that is very far reaching. Details may not emerge for a long time, but the details are there.
If he says that he "does not support" Taiwanese independence, or simply reiterates US support for the "one China" policy, China has made some concessions to us, and our relations will improve somewhat in future years.
If Bush says nothing about Taiwanese independence, the summit was not very successful.
If Bush makes noises in support of Taiwanese independence, even as a concept, things went very badly.
The summit will address a lot of issues, but this code will let you know -- in general -- how well or badly it went.
Interesting...thanks!
Grim...thanks for the "keyword" for the diplo-speak that will emerge. It's a great point
The exact quote:
I do not support independence for Taiwan
That translates: fair skies, no real wind at the sails.
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