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Are China and the US Headed for Eventual War?

Posted by MARK DANIELS in International.
Aug 16th, 2009 | Comments

That would be insane!

But, I agree with Niall Ferguson that the two countries are, inevitably, headed for a divorce, the end of what he once called “Chimerica.”

Having said that, China’s government clearly seems to be moving toward what Ferguson calls “empire building,” which could be detrimental to regional stability, the environment, and US interests.

For the future, the US government needs, among other things, to:

  • Decrease its debt to China.
  • Deepen or form strategic partnerships with Asian nations as a means buffering China’s hegemonic designs in Asia.
  • Wean itself off of oil, for which China is likely to become an increasingly aggressive competitor.
  • Encourage Americans to save more and mortgage less of their financial well-being to the Chinese.

[This has been crossposted on my personal blog.]

  • pacatrue
    Prepping for the war with China is a great way to get a war with China.

    Anyway, yeah, as China becomes more and more powerful, the U.S. and PRC will certainly butt heads more and more with significant consequences. Doesn't mean we have to live in fear and get ready to nuke each other, however, which is what a real war would mean, of course. There's no victory in a full-scale war between our two nations. Cold War is far more possible until one nation collapses from the weight. Perhaps it would be better to put effort as possible into improving relations rather than working for their demise?
  • MJDaniels53
    It would be silly to work for Chinese government's demise. But I don't want to feed the beast either.
  • SteveK
    Dynasties don't last forever. Those not cognizant of history (you know... the things that happened before we got here) may think that this is different but... it's not.
    The Roman Empire... fell.
    The Spanish Empire... fell.
    The British Empire... fell.
    The French... well, "bonne chance!"
    It's not the "Chinese government's demise"... It's their turn... AGAIN... Maybe we'll get a second chance, too, but that's for 'history' to decide. We'll not be here to see it.
  • pacatrue
    I'm not quite sure what point you are making, SteveK. Not trying to be dense, just not sure. My first thought from reading your comment was, "well, eventually, the Earth is going to be consumed in the fires of the sun, but that doesn't mean I want to speed that process along just because it's the future."

    Anyway, are you essentially saying that governments collapse over time, and so we should try to make the current Chinese government collapse too?
  • SteveK
    pacatrue,

    I'm not sure how you read that as "we should try to make the current Chinese government collapse too" but what I said was, "It's their turn". EDIT: Meaning their turn for Empire not their turn to lose.

    I don't think it's China that we should be worrying about.

    The Roman, Spanish and British Empires all fell because they overreached externally while ignoring internal woe's and strife. They ignored their widening gap between the haves and the have nots.

    Sound familiar?.. As Harry Truman noted, "The only thing new in this world is the history that you don't know”
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