Won’t you be my neighbor?
I found a wonderful five part series from NPR on China and its neighbors. There is a separate piece on Japan, Vietnam, India, and South Korea. (Unfortunately it appears the piece on Russia is missing.) The history of the relationships with these neighbors appears to affect the current political, economic, and cultural influences China has on them.
Japan, with its floundering economy, has watched China’s soar. Japanese factory owners are looking to China to relocate their factories due to a cheap labor pool. Japan, who has the most to loose, appears to be “jealous” of China.
Vietnam seeks to import tourist from China. China is Vietnam’s 3rd largest trading partner. Although both areas are currently communist, sheer physical proximity to China is a concern of Vietnam.
Economic development is the focus of both China and India. With the “strategic envy” of the past gone, they have also preformed joint naval exercises. Both appear more concerned with their internal struggles than each other.
South Korea sees China as an economic source at home and in China. All ages are learning Chinese: some learn in order to do business in China, others learn to accommodate Chinese tourist.
As long as all of these neighbors continued to “play nice” together, I don’t see why the US government should make any changes with their policies. Considering the current state of our own economy we may be better served focusing our attentions internally. US involvement in the relationships of China and it’s neighbors should only come should China choose to become a military bully. This is a possibility which looms over its neighbors, but due to their reliance on each other politically, economically, and culturally I think/hope it is unlikely.
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2 comments:
It seems the situation of China building relations with its neighbors has harbored peace for the time being. So, I agree the US should maintain and not change its policies with these countries. It seems kind of nice to have another country maintain relations of peace so the US doesn't have to add more to its plate.
Based on Stuart-Fox's article, I would say that the time has come for the US to scrutinize its place in the world, absolve its absolutes, and get down to being a good global neighbor. Things have changed. We are not the only fish in the pond - not even the biggest anymore - and we need to act accordingly.
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