“China has every right to demand an important seat at the table at which global affairs are debated. But that right carries with it an important and compelling responsibility.”

 

 

Faithful readers will remember I promised a continuation of the last edition’s focus on global geo-political issues. China’s importance in that regard is such that I felt it deserved a dedicated column.

This is such a dilemma, not just for political leaders but for business too—really for all of us as we try to weigh the pros and cons of how we engage with China. And engage we must. Not just because of its growing military prowess but because it is the world’s second largest economy. In this era of globalization, the economic consequences of the unprecedented growth the country has experienced over the past, say, 30 years means it is now intimately integrated with the economies of the world. It is a huge importer of raw materials, commodities, food, sophisticated technology and an exporter to the world of consumer and industrial goods. It would be hard to imagine any industry, except perhaps certain elements of military hardware, that does not have some Chinese componentry or supply chain logistics in the final product.

But China has abused the détente and open-door trading relationships which much of the world offered up in helping its growth. The British-controlled territory of Hong Kong was handed over to China in 1997 under the auspices of a treaty agreement which China has flagrantly violated.

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