China's World Power Status Reconsidered

We have been asked if China’s world power status should be challenged. If we were to deny China the standing it has earned through its efforts (both fair and unfair, free and coerced) we would do so at our peril. China is a world power and to deny it would be to purposefully ignore the dragon in the room.

In fact, what seems to be happening now on the world stage is exactly what should be happening: China is being recognized for what it is. It is a huge country with a massive population, phenomenal economic growth, vast potential for contribution, a horrible human rights record, and declining environmental health. Pretending that China is not a world power would be to minimize the impact of these very real problems.

One lesson can be learned from the Cultural Revolution. The Chinese understand a collective morality and despise shame. Back then, “reactionary” intellectuals were publically humiliated to reinforce collective ideals. The world should adopt a similar (those less abrasive) strategy now. One thing that Chinese nationalism wants is greater prestige. An appeal to Chinese nationalism is the way to embarrass the Chinese into compliance with international standards. China should be recognized for what it is, but then told that it is not living up to the world standard for modern powers.

This strategy is already working to an extent as China begins to realize its responsibilities. China has agreed to the UN peace keepers in Sudan, for example, and is very aware of the world’s eyes being upon it in this Olympic year. China is starting to realize that its hands-off approach to the tyrants it trades with is unacceptable to the rest of the developed world and that the industrialized nations find its control of information and political repression very distasteful. It is highly unlikely that the shame strategy alone will cause any broad reforms, but it is a better strategy than trying to sweep a fire breathing dragon (one that has just woken up, in fact) under the rug.