Anja Manuel, The Atlantic: China Is Quietly Reshaping the World
The staggering scope of the country’s infrastructure initiative—and what it means for the international order
The Pakistani town of Gwadar was until recently filled with the dust-colored cinderblock houses of about 50,000 fishermen. Ringed by cliffs, desert, and the Arabian Sea, it was at the forgotten edge of the earth. Now it’s one centerpiece of China’s “Belt and Road” initiative, and the town has transformed as a result. Gwadar is experiencing a storm of construction: a brand-new container port, new hotels, and 1,800 miles of superhighway and high-speed railway to connect it to China’s landlocked western provinces. China and Pakistan aspire to turn Gwadar into a new Dubai, making it a city that will ultimately house 2 million people.
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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- October 18, 2017
China’s Xi sells his vision of new socialism to the world -- Nathan VanderKlippe, Globe and Mail
The Caliphate Is Gone, But the ISIS Franchise Lives On -- Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz
Al-Qaida set to gain as Islamic State disintegrates -- Bassem Mroue and Qassim Abdul-Sahra, AP
Syria war: Raqqa free, devastated and empty: Analysis -- Matt Brown, ABC News Online
Opposing the Nuke Deal is a Sideshow that Distracts from Iran's Expansionism in Syria and Iraq -- Frederic C. Hof, Newsweek
Kurdish Dreams of Independence Delayed Again -- Dexter Filkins, New Yorker
Why Marawi's 300,000-odd refugees don't blame Islamic State for drawn-out conflict: Analysis -- Adam Harvey, ABC News Online
Deadly Overconfidence: Trump Thinks Missile Defenses Work Against North Korea, and That Should Scare You -- Ankit Panda and Vipin Narang, War On The Rocks
What to Do About Turkey? -- Fredrik Wesslau, European Council on Foreign Relations
African rulers' weapon against web-based dissent: the off switch -- Edward McAllister, Reuters
Putin's greatest weakness may be located on US shores -- Anders Aslund, The Hill
Catalonia: what next for the independence movement? -- Sam Jones and Stephen Burgen, The Guardian
After Catalonia, Italy steps up for autonomy votes -- Tim Hedges, The Commentator
Accused of corruption, popularity near zero – why is Temer still Brazil's president? -- Dom Phillips, The Guardian
How Richard Branson Describes His Only Meeting With Donald Trump -- Rebecca Gibian, Real Clear Life
2 comments:
China has the people power and resources to be a leader, if they want to, but what is missing is extremely important and why so many countries have issues with China and would not follow its leadership, namely:
1. Credibility. A leader, especially -the- world leader, needs to be able to credibly lead and lead by example, including moral and military engagements. While it is easy to criticize the US, I would rather live under its influence/sphere (as a European, I do), than Chinese. Why? Because I love my freedom of speech. Try this as a Chinese. Good luck in prison.
I would also add that China is a constant and the most severe violator of international trade. We cannot compete fairly if we cannot enter the market. Hundreds of billions have been extorted this way / have been lost by our companies, while Chinese companies can not only access our markets, but also steal trade goods, IP, violate copyrights and trademarks, patent rights you name it. It's getting better, I know, but the damage that was done by this in the last twenty years is why we lost trillions and suddenly China is so immensely rich. It's not that they work so hard over there ;-)
2. Experience: Especially in the field of military engagement. Yes, China has had its wars, but hasn't fought a major war since it upgraded its military. This is dearly needed, not only to credibly project power outwards, but also to believe it themselves. China has come a long way, but still needs to prove to the World and itself that it can engage militarily
Why fight a war when you can win economically and be seen as peaceful leading nation?
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