I believe there is still a totalitarian grip on it, maybe loosening and tightening the reins as if in control of all. If one accepts this and compacently abides by it, you will be consumed
Whether we accept and abide by this is quite irrelevant - we do not have the power to force a change in China's government. What matters is whether the Chinese people accept or abide by it, and the more freely information flows, and the more commercial contact they have with the outside world, the less likely they are to continue accepting and abiding. That's why I don't think economic sanctions are going to be effective in the long run. China's need for economic growth and the commercial instincts and aspirations of the Chinese are the chink in the armor of the totalitarian government; our job is to pry that open, not weld it shut. I don't mind sending a carrier or two to sail around the island if the threats go beyond talk - not that this is likely, as China simply does not have the capacity to invade - but we should keep business going and accelerate it as much as possible.
A colleague of mine was able to complete his advanced degree in the states at the age of 40 - he worked for years on a farm as part of the cultural revolution. This is the same regime
In what sense is it the same regime?
until they can look at the past and repudiate the follys, then they will meekly accept whatever future consequences might befall them from the ruling elite.
Those policies have been changed, and the people behind them have been dealt with rather harshly. That's more repudiation than most countries ever give their follies.
Resistance to the ruling elite is more likely to come from aspirations for the future than from regret for the past. It is also worth noting that the old generation of leaders, who preached political and economic isolation and military dominance in Asia, will eventually be replaced by a new generation, which aims chiefly at attaining a dominant economic position in Asia. This transition is to our benefit, and should be encouraged. |
