[justa-hairyape]

China and its economy are not the problem. The problem is with its dictatorial leaders. I am sure most of us still remember The Square. Chinese people have been hard working and productive for thousands of years. They built The Wall to keep barbaric hordes out. Some believe the Wall eventually drove the Hun and later Mongolian hordes west. Their Wall was the perfect defense against Horse Arching Hordes that could ride all day long. The West would later learn that they had no such defense.

[garbageseeker]

The problem is with its dictatorial leaders

Even though the Chinese are still repressive, they are softening up a tad because they like the cash flowing in from the West. The Chinese government is realizing that its not profitable to keep your population under the thumb of repression. I still cannot trust the Chinese because they still expansionist philosophy by using what ever means necessary. Their military intentions are also hostile. Kim Jong-Il is still clinging to the Stalinist-Leninist philosophy economics and oppression. Remember, this type of economy let to the bankruptcy of the Soviet Union and he is heading toward the same fate.

[kinetics]

The only economically first-world nation I know of that also has an authoritarian ruler is Singapore. Perhaps that's what China is modelling after?