China Military Build Up Concerns Rumsfeld

Click on the title for an article from the AFP, about some comments made by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. He is concerned about the recent arms build-up in the People's Republic. And well, he should be. But, this is nothing new.

It's no secret that I believe that China is a sleeping giant and the hibernation is about over (see the archives for more posts). This Rip Van Winkle of a nation has begun its revival as one of the fastest growing economies in the world. People are owning things, they are working for people that own things, and they are buying more things. The acquisition of Hong Kong helped jumpstart a surge in real growth, after a long dark period in Chinese history under Mao and his immediate successors.

Although the light has been seen economically, there very much remains a dark side to China. China's economy has changed but its politics remain very Communist and very imperial. It is controlled by a few men that never get elected, cut throats (both literally and figuratively), and have no accountability to their people or to the world.

Under Mao, there was a socialist agrarian economy that generated very little revenue for a massive arms build-up. (There was some, but it wasn't anywhere near the expenditures of the US and the USSR.) They were contained.

Now, things are quite different. Now they are spending their new found money, from their new cash cow, on all things military. Weapons, weapons systems, and equipment are being built and bought by the government at alarming rates. (And they may not just be selling to themselves either)

China is smart. They see us using resources in the War On Terror and naturally they have enough sense to see that this is the time for them to make a move. While we expend, they stock and restock. While we spend, they save. They are at war with no one, right now. And, they are not eager to support us, not even diplomatically.

In fact, have you ever heard a Chinese diplomat trying to urge anyone to peace, much less the US? They are silent on terror (some of them even danced and cheered when the towers were hit, just like the Palestinians), they are silent on North Korea, and they are silent on Iran. They are silent on just about everything, except Taiwan and the perceived absence of Japanese contrition (from acts that were committed over sixty years ago).

The reason is simple. They want us weakened, so they can someday be in a position to dominate Asia and control the markets. They want to be the world leader in everything and they want to do it with a Communist, undemocratically elected government. Imperialism is alive and well in China and they are getting ready for something, it's only a matter of time.

I hope that Secretary Rumsfeld has been aware for this for a while. I hope President Bush has been keeping up with things, in the far east. Because, the next big thorn in our side may be poising itself for a move, that we may not be able to do much about.

Now, is the time for a policy on China, not after it makes its move. The question is, when can we expect one?

Something to think about as we remember Tiananmen Square.