1. Is China now an enemy of the United States? A Trading partner? Or both? How can you tell?
The normal China and United States relationship shows that they are neither enemies nor allies. In the near future, China could be an enemy of United States, as China can pose a threat to United States’ ‘power’ over other countries; thus, China being an equal competitor in many aspects similar to political influence, military power or security, and economic status. But instead of raging war against China, United States casts friendly approach towards China; moreover, making a cooperative atmosphere over China thinking of making connections with China as a very important strategic plan. As of now, China can be a possible partner of United States, with China showing good economic status, making China the best target.
What pushes the relationship of the two countries forward is the increased economic and trade relations between them. With this increased bilateral trading relationship, which could further develop, will eventually benefit both sides. But on the other hand, if both sides fail to stabilize their relationship, it is possible that the China-United States relationship will go down the drain; furthermore, if predicted correctly, a war could emerged between the powerful countries.
2. Who are the four Tigers of Asia?
The Four Tigers of Asia/ Four Asian Tigers are also known for its other names like East Asian Tigers or Asia’s Four Little Dragons. These terms indicates the economic status of Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. The four countries have territories that are noted to have considering their high growth rates and their fast industrialization between the early years of 1960s to 1990s. On the early stage of the 21st century, the four tigers are found to be near their fully developed stage and the attention was then shifted, preferably to other Asian economies that are now experiencing increased economic transformation.
3. Could war between the United States and Japan been avoided? Could it happen again? Why? Could the economic success of the East Asia be copied elsewhere?
The question ‘could the war between the United States and Japan been avoided?’ have answers with different interpretation. Different historians have tried to answer this question in different ways with their different point of views.
According to George Morgenstern, a historian, there existed two parties in Japan, the peace and war party against China. Before the war, instead of United States aiding the peace group in Japan, United States ignored the fact that the peace group exists and operates; moreover, United States eventually imposed the sanctions against Japan. If the United States had chosen to support the peace group in Japan, there could have been a possibility that instead of creating Japan as an enemy, Japan could have been their powerful ally instead; thus, preventing the war between United States and Japan and preventing damages the war have caused.
This war could happen again if China, as a possible big competitor of United States, could acquire advanced technologies and firearms like nuclear missiles, and flaunts its powers to their neighboring Asian countries. Instead of China conquering other countries, they will use their power to intimidate, coerce or deny accessibility to obtain specific goals. With this kind of power China can encompass, the other neighboring countries would seek its power than of that United States, including Japan. Because China would then be more powerful than United States, and in turn, United States would loose its Asian allies. With this possible twist of events, there could probably war among worlds.
The first economic system that is put together in the former Soviet Union which is anti-market, state-commanded economies was copied around the world; thus countries like Cuba, Albania, Tanzania, India and China applied this kind of economic system which latter have negative outcome. On the other side, the economies in East Asia like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and other countries have positive outcomes. Other countries can copy the success of the East Asian countries by applying East Asia’s economic system. The countries that would copy this kind of economic system, like countries in the Middle East (for example, the Arabs), the countries found in the West and the Third World countries, should first have an economic reform; thus opening their country to the world, having information accessibility and modernization and development of business class. The implementation of new economic system should be intellectually thought of thoroughly, with considerations of all aspects like how to implement, the people involving the implementation and dealing with the responses of people. There are also things to be considered like cultures and societies, because different kinds of societies need different kinds of economic system framework that would be suitable to them. Even if the implemented economic framework is considered good but the framework is not fully understood, wrongly implemented, or not developed fully, then all of the efforts will be gone to waste. Lastly, cooperation and acceptance from the people as a whole and killing (if not, lessen) corruption will also help the chosen economic framework to work and be a success.
References:
Parpart, U. (n.d.). Bush’s lone military superpower vision Part 2: The enemy is China Asia Times Online. August 21, 2007 from http://www.atimes.com/editor/CB17Ba01.html
Morgenstern, G. (1947) Pearl Harbor the Story of the Secret. New York: The Devin-Adair Company.
Sarel, M. (1996). What we can and what we cannot infer. Growth in East Asia. (n.p.). August 21, 2007 from http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/issues1/index.htm
Zakaria, F. (2003). Illiberal democracy at home and abroad. The Future of Freedom. New York: W. W. Norton and Company, Inc.