One last thing on China...
Wednesday, July 5, 2006 at 3:33PM Nowhere in my interactions do I get this vibe of China as uber-strategists who think long-term compared to those puny American brains that can only concentrate on the here and now. Nor do I see it in their writings. The more I interact with them, the more I think that's the usual mirror-imaging: they model themselves on us because we're the leaders and then we freak at their modeling behavior, believing it reveals some deep, strategic, long-term thinking when in actuality none exists.
I find China as clueless about the future as most emerging countries. That's why they plan so much. People really confident about the future don't have to plan. They simply know what to do. I believe this is a naturally accruing capability with age, and in that regard, China is "young" despite the age of its civilization. Again, we need to think of them more like the U.S. at the start of the 20th century: getting brash but essentially uncertain and nervous about how to behave in the world. The more the bluster, the more the fear--I always say.
Speaking to defense analysts there, most confided that China's military build-up is without any serious grand strategic thought, and that stuff just gets bought due to bureaucratic outcomes more than seriously applied strategic or even operational rationales. Sad to say, the Chinese military is far too much like our own in that regard.
And that's why the idea of alliance with the U.S. in the SysAdmin function interests them so: they are desperate for hints and guidance on how to emerge militarily over something besides Taiwan, which remains their mindless default position--unless we choose to move them off it.
The growing backlash against the Chinese in the Gap is real, and it will unfold. Better we have them grooved into some useful role there militarily when some serious shit really hits the fan. Better for us, better for the Chinese, better for the Gap, better for the Core.
Reader Comments (5)
I heard the same type of ideas coming from a Marine officer friend who returned from China last month. His take was that most of the people in China he met were just as peace loving as we are in the U.S. and wanted the same things we want, the ability to care for themselves and their families and to get some of the creature comforts to make life enjoyable not bearable. He was awed by how venerated a good education was to the average person.
He said he felt accepted and comfortable with the people he met, not unlike the feelings he had in N.Iraq among the Kurds.
Today's military officers are better informed on world politics than many of our politicians. I haven't met an 04 or above that hasn't read your books or Tom Friedman's and they are ready to debate ideas. When I find an officer that hasn't read your books - I will buy the books for them as a gift of positive, realistic enlightenment.
Go forth and inspire!
People do indeed underestimate how sharp our military officers are. No military even comes close.
Our military officers are sharp but I have serious doubts about our polititians.
'Our military officers are sharp but I have serious doubts about our polititians.'
and our spellers! ;-)
but seriously, the politicians are a function of their constituents. we get the government we deserve in a republic/democracy, right? aren't we consumer/citizens the root of the political problem?
"but seriously, the politicians are a function of their constituents. we get the government we deserve in a republic/democracy, right? aren't we consumer/citizens the root of the political problem?"
I can answer this one!
Yes and Yes