The Top Ten Unicorns of China Policy

Foreign Policy Magazine ^ | DANIEL BLUMENTHAL

[Pride_of_the_Bluegrass]

Unicorns are beautiful, make-believe creatures. But despite overwhelming evidence of their fantastical nature, many people still believe in them. Much of America's China policy is also underpinned by belief in the fantastical: in this case, soothing but logically inconsistent ideas. But unlike with unicorns, the United States' China-policy excursions into the realm of make-believe could be dangerous. Crafting a better China policy requires us to identify what is imaginary in U.S. thinking about China. Author James Mann captures some in his book, The China Fantasy.

Here are my own top 10 China-policy unicorns:

[bigheadfred]

About 40 years ago my mom told me she was having repeated dreams of Red Chinese soldiers invading America. Russia? No worries. My mom is no dummy. I’ve never forgotten what she told me.

Our drones are infected by a virus probably because of the use of microchips imported from China.

Idaho, and other states, are willing to let the Chicoms build independent “economic” zones on OUR LAND?

I’m a large enough person I could throw one of the little bastards a fair piece. But I wouldn’t trust them that far.

[Vince Ferrer]

Something not usually considered is that we have more access to energy and water than they do. This need may eventually cause them to become agressive in the South China Sea.

[GOPJ]

U.S. presidents tend to avoid making their Chinese counterparts uncomfortable by insisting on speaking to a real cross-section of Chinese society. Engagement seen through the prism of government-to-government relations keeps the United States from engaging with the broader Chinese public. Chinese officials come to the United States and meet with whomever they want (usually in carefully controlled settings and often with groups that are critical of the U.S. government and very friendly to the Chinese government). U.S. leaders are far more cautious in choosing with whom to meet in China. The United States does not demand reciprocity in meeting with real civil society -- underground church leaders, political reformers, and so on. China has a successful engagement policy. America does not.

The above is from Unicorn #5... it backs up what you're saying about 'economic zones in our land' - an advantage they don't give us...

[Last Dakotan]

...my mom told me she was having repeated dreams of Red Chinese soldiers invading America.

Here is a photo of the invasion craft.

[bigheadfred]

This is just a fast search link.

http://commerce.idaho.gov/news/2010/12/chinese-company-eyes-idaho.aspx

As far as I know now, this is a go. My boss told me it was a go a couple of months ago. He doesn’t do FR so he acted like I should be shocked. Ya know, the first on my block to hear the “good” news.

And I admit I didn’t read the whole article. I’d rather pay heed to my mom.

[familyop]

"3. China will inevitably overtake America, and America must manage its decline elegantly. This is a new China-policy unicorn."

There's the stinking pile of crap under all of that sugar. The globalist drumbeat for over four years about the mythical collapse of China is exactly the opposite. Some countries in Asia are doing the work that you allegedly won't do and increasing production during the intentional suffocation of our western economy. Feel soothed?

[muffaletaman]

Not saying anything much about your comment, except...

Being from Texas, I’m wondering how far you might toss Yao Ming.

IF a fair piece means far far away, then you must be a VERY big guy...

;-)

[bigheadfred]

Well, to me, tossing someone a fair piece isn’t all that far. Just the hell away from (you).

yao ming. Okay. So there is ONE out of 18 billion...teehee

[GOPJ]

And I admit I didn’t read the whole article. I’d rather pay heed to my mom.

There's something sweet about that...