China’s Foreign Policy: Speak Softly or Perhaps Not at All

by Matthew Yglasias, Think Progress

6.4.10

“But to me it looks more like a policy of “masterful inaction.” China is focused on economic growth, on trying to secure international acquiescence to its rule over Tibet, and to trying to reintegrate Taiwan into PRC rule without sparking a destructive war but they regard these as domestic issues. On the international stage, they’re mostly doing what we would call economic policy. Their former ambassador in Washington said he spent most of his time on trade/currency issues and you’d have to think that’s doubly true for ambassadors to lesser military powers.”

With all the talk about Obama’s National Security Strategy, it’s completely fair to wonder what the biggest threat to American hegemony is thinking. We know how they feel about Tibet, Taiwan, North Korea and even Iran, but is there a master plan behind it? It seems they just want to focus on economic growth and see conflict as disruption to it. That’s a strategy in my book.

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2010/06/chinese-democracy-2.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+matthewyglesias+%28Matthew+Yglesias%29