Should China Resist Depending Upon the United States?

Each person is different. For example, one person works and thinks hard all day long to only become a mediocre designer. Another person merely draws something simple, like a circle, and he or she becomes the chief designer of China’s process of reforming and opening up.

So, what is the conceptual basis for Xiaoping Deng’s design? What is the purpose of the reform and opening-up? After more than thirty years of practice, I am afraid that even an average Chinese person can gradually understand what it entails. It will amount to acknowledging the west as China’s master and blending in with the western world. The so-called integration with the world is really assimilation into the western world led by the U.S.

During the Cold War, out of consideration for global strategies and needs, China and the U.S. looked like lovers that had just met and were spending some sweet time together. It appears to me that the statements “never be the leader” and “conceal our ability and bide our time,” said by Xiaoping Deng are letters of guarantee written to the Americans rather than genuine Chinese sayings.

When the Cold War ended, the U.S. became the only world power. From then on the Americans held high a huge flag of democracy and liberty. They became egoistic with a powerful military as backup support, and they designed the world’s present and future to suit them. Until now, there were very few countries that could really be independent. Russia, China, France, Iran and Cuba are countries that can be included in that statement. Even Great Britain has become a follower of the U.S. There is a political joke: Americans say, “Jump!” British people say, “How high?”

Russia’s economy is too weak and France’s is too small. They cannot compete with the U.S. But China, the forgotten lover, has blended with the western world and become a cash cow that works hard without complaints and continually provides wealth to the U.S. China’s development is based on an export-oriented economy at the cost of sacrificing its environment, resources, economic autonomy and people’s benefits. In the spectrum of global economic integration, China is at the low-end of the industrial portion. Twenty-eight open industries are already controlled by foreign investment. Therefore, although China has thirty years of high speed development, the average Chinese worker’s wage is only one tenth of that of a U.S. worker, and the average Chinese person is in the predicament of not being able to afford education, medical care or even housing.

At present, most of China’s economy has been colonized, and it is becoming more so — even through strong political resistance. Exaggerating some, one could say China is halfway to becoming a servant of the U.S. In fact, “helping each other during tough times,” “political mutual trust,” “peaceful rise” and “harmony is what matters” were the assurances voiced to Americans by the Chinese government in the past. Perhaps in order to not irritate the Americans, “peaceful rise” was changed to “peaceful development” later on. However, since China’s economy has surpassed Japan to become the world’s second largest and simultaneously Chinese people’s consciousness has been growing rapidly, the Americans have become more and more concerned about China.

One has to know that even if its “loyal dog” Japan shows signs of affecting its interests, the U.S. shows no mercy at all. Years ago, in order to stop Japan from sprinting to the world’s number one spot, a “Plaza Agreement” stagnated Japan’s economy. Some people calculated that if everyone were living at the same standard as Americans, resources of seven earths would be needed. Americans, who rely on the hegemony of the dollar and playing financial games, are living luxurious lives. As the industrial hollow intensified, the financial crisis broke out, at last, and the U.S. now shows signs of decline. Under this circumstance, in order to keep their luxurious lives, Americans will go to any extreme. U.S. President Obama says that the U.S. will never be in second place. This shows his concerns about China’s peaceful development.

There must be Chinese people, since I have heard a lot of them saying so, that envy how easily Japan and Korea became servants of the Americans while living with affluence. These same Chinese people even say that China should be a colony of the U.S. for at least a hundred years. Actually, there are many reasons for this, but I will not discuss them. In fact, being a servant of the U.S. might not be a good thing. Haiti, which has suffered from an earthquake recently, is a good example. India is also a capitalist country that is flaunting liberty and democracy, but their living standard is no better than China’s.

Let us analyze the possible policy paths of the Chinese government for the future. The first path: China completely gives up an independent path and just throws itself into the lap of the U.S. In this case, the western world will have concerns because of many factors, such as China’s large population (1.3 billion people) and large land area. The western world will dismember China by any means. Then, the Chinese government will be able to do nothing for its country. The former Soviet Union and Yugoslavia are good examples of this scenario. China could end up dividing into many countries and fighting wars — China will succumb to disaster. This option is a “path of no return.”

The second path: China continues concealing its ability and helping its people during tough times. Western countries like the U.S. are closing this path off, though. Economic sanctions, selling arms to Taiwan and meeting the Dalai Lama . . . these are used by the U.S. to test the loyalty of the half-servant China. The purpose is to force China to choose the first path. Therefore, the rejuvenation of China is hopeless — it is a tough path.

The third path: Pursue an independent road to development by gradually giving up the export-oriented economy that “satisfies foreigners’ material and cultural needs.”However, in this case, the Americans who are enjoying the great achievements of China’s thirty years of reform and opening-up, and their agents in China would explode with rage. They would probably even menace China with war. Whether this path is viable depends on the Chinese government and its people’s determination.

Will maintaining independence from the U.S. be fortunate or unfortunate for the Chinese? How can the Chinese nation become a more prosperous and powerful nation?