How China's Foreign Policy Is Changing The World

China’s Ruthless Foreign Policy Is Changing The World In Dangerous Ways -- Jonathan Kay, National Post

Are we witnessing the end of the “American age”? It depends whom you ask. But one thing is certain: Thanks to the near-bankruptcy of the American welfare state, Washington is losing both the means and desire to project power across the world. Inevitably, nations with deeper pockets — China, most notably — will fill the void.

This process already is underway in many parts of the world. That includes large swathes of Central Asia, where Beijing’s billions are beginning to revolutionize regional infrastructure and alliances — in dazzling but potentially dangerous ways.

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My Comment: Jonathan Kay may call China's foreign policy .... I call it realistic. The U.S. got bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan at great cost in blood and treasure .... but it is China that is now positioned to take advantage of new opportunities. Such a policy is not dangerous .... it is realpolitik.

China Is Using It`s Trade And Investment Clout To Pursue Their Foreign Policy Agenda

China Weaponizes Trade and Investment -- Gordan Chang, Forbes

On Tuesday, State Councilor Dai Bingguo and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi attended the inaugural meeting in Beijing of the Foreign Ministry’s Department of International Economy. The establishment of the unit marks a new phase in what Dai, China’s foreign policy chief, blandly called “economic diplomacy.”

At first glance, it seems as if there is nothing to worry about. Yang, in the words of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said “the Department will be responsible to help better participate in international economic cooperation and economic governance from the perspective of politics and diplomacy, implement the opening-up strategy of mutual benefit and win-for-all, safeguard the interest of national development and economic security and make bigger contributions to boosting world economic growth and realizing common development of all countries.”

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My Comment: When you are the second largest economy in the world holding financial reserves in the trillions .... you will have some clout. As to China using this clout .... we should not be surprised that they are doing this .... we should be surprised on why has it taken them this long to do so.

China's Emerging Foreign Policy

How China Sees The World: An Emerging Global Power Hashes Out Its Foreign Policy -- Thanassis Cambanis, Boston.com

The specter of a China with rising influence in the world has long provoked anxiety here in America. Like a speeding car that suddenly fills the rearview mirror, China has grown stronger and bolder and has done it quickly: Not only does it hold colossal amounts of American currency and boast a favorable trade deficit, it has increasingly been able to play the heavy with other nations. China is forging commercial relationships with African and Middle Eastern countries that can provide it natural resources, and has the clout to press its prerogatives in more local disputes with its Asian neighbors—including last week’s face-off with Vietnam in the South China Sea.

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My Comment: I agree with much of the analysis done in this post .... for all you China watchers this is your must read post for today.

A Contrast In Styles Between U.S. President Obama And Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao

Photo: Chinese premier Wen Jiabao

Obama to Europe: Do You Think I’m Sexy? China to EU – We Will Save the Euro -- Haydn Shaughnessy, Forbes

China premier Wen Jiabao’s trip to Europe – he spent a part of today visiting Stratford Upon Avon in England and told an audience that western leaders need to understand more about China’s literary greats – is low key in comparison with that of President Obama a month back but the message is: there’s business to be done, starting with China buying up European debt. Anyone remember Obama’s message? The razzmatazz of the Obama visit – looking for the lost apostrophe in Ireland and toasting the Queen in London – is already more or less meaningless and in fact Obama’s people played down the possibility of any significant achievements before he left the USA.

Wen on the other hand is quoted Saturday as saying:

“China is a long-term investor in Europe’s sovereign debt market,” Mr Wen said at a press conference with the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orban.

“In recent years we have increased by quite a big margin our holdings of government bonds. We will consistently continue to support Europe and the euro.”

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My Comment: Haydn Shaughnessy nails it perfectly in this commentary piece .... I could not have said it any better.

China's Military Is Expanding Abroad

China’s Military Gets Expeditionary -- Gabe Collins, The Diplomat

In the fifth in our series on understanding Asia-Pacific sea power, we look at the PLA’s growing expeditionary capabilities and its greater implications.

China’s military is in the nascent stages of becoming an expeditionary force. The country’s anti-piracy deployment to the Gulf of Aden and the use of naval and air assets to support the evacuation of Chinese citizens from Libya in February and March 2011 have shown real capability in this arena.

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My Comment: The moment in time that we will know that China is truly an expeditionary power is when they start placing their bases in other countries. My prediction .... Myanmar and Pakistan will be the first two countries that would invite such a Chinese presence.