China and America Swapping Expertise?

References:

(8) ìChina Recruits Foreign Talent: State Enterprises Seek Infusion of New Blood in Management,î by Ben Dolven, Wall Street Journal, 15 April, p. A13.

(9) ìCheney Urges China to Press North Korea on A-Bombs,î by Joseph Kahn, New York Times, 15 April, p. A3.

The first reference is just yet another good example of Chinaís increasing integration with the outside world. In Chinaís hotel industry, firms are increasingly hiring American/foreign executives in an attempt to improve service and overall competitiveness in the global marketplace. This is a leading-edge indicator of China reaching out to the outside world: since tourism is defined primarily by visiting foreigners, you bring in foreigners to help you understand how to do a better job.

The second reference just warms my heart a bit: Vice President Cheney in China urging the leaders there to work more forcefully with us in pressing North Korean compliance with international sanctions on its nuclear programs. I donít believe weíll get anywhere doing this sort of thing with Pyongyang, I just like seeing the U.S. and China talking explicitly about possible solution sets. To me, getting China on board on how we eventually and inevitably topple Kim Jong Ilís regime is crucial to creating a follow-on security alliance in Asia that brings together a China, Japan, united Korea, and the United States. Alliances like a NATO come out of a successful war experience, and I canít think of any dictator who deserves one more now that Saddam is gone.