|
Explanation
China has a large and growing population. The need and desire
to emigrate may force people into neighboring countries.
Historically the Chinese government regards all the former
Mongolian area as historically Chinese. This includes Mongolia
and parts of Russia.
Another area regarded as historically Chinese is the Russian
Far East: Vladivostok and the Pacific coastal areas. As with
Hong Kong the area was ceded by treaty but under duress. A weakened
Russia might be seen as vulnerable.
Siberia is a large sparsely populated area which Chinese might
wish to migrate into. In any case it was possible to imagine
it may break away from Russia, while Russia was weak, though
less so now under Putin.
China is growing its economy much faster than Russia, but
Russia controls supplies of oil and gas that China may wish to
import.
Do these facts point to a danger of war in the future?
How far is China likely to clash with the United States? China's
economy is growing rapidly, and has undertaken a large part of
the manufacturing for the United States, while lending the US
the money to import its products. Thus the US seems to be a declining
power, which could not combat its "bank manager". In
February 2010 a US contract to supply weapons to Taiwan met with
Chinese disapproval, which may have prompted China to sell US
Treasury Bonds - weakening the US economy. President Obama's
meeting with the Dalai Lama in February 2010 also prompted China's
disapproval.
|
