Oct 5, 2009

The rise of the dragon


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See how China has changed over 60 years
As China celebrates its 60th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China on 1st Oct with great pomp and pageantry that befits the occasion and with the world watching in awe, many world leaders must be wondering what is in store for the world, economically and military in the future from a country that has risen from ashes.

As the founding father of the People's Republic of China, Chairman Mao Zedong was revered like god-like status. The whole nation followed him loyally. However, he was good in fighting but poor in governing. The Chinese had suffered so much of miseries and disasters under his leadership, that it had practically taught the people the art of survival. The Cultural Revolution and The Great Leap Forward that were advocated by Chairman Mao were two major disasters that had caused millions of people died of starvation.
The Opium War with the British during the Manchu era and the occupation by the Japanese during the Second World War had brought so much of shame to the Chinese that they were called ‘The sick man of Asia’.

If we were to look at the history of China much earlier on, like during the voyages of Admiral Zheng Ho, the might and superiority of China was shown to the world: a fleet of powerful ships, the invention of fireworks and paper and many other discoveries. Interestingly, despite all these power and might, the Chinese never set out to conquer but to conduct trade.

Today, the Chinese has learned much from history and as strong followers of the teachings of Confucius, the will to succeed has make them a remarkable race: a race that has earn the respect from the world over. The sick man is no more sick and is well and strong now to challenge the world. In the words of Chairman Mao: "The Chinese people have stood up!".

And today, China is the third largest economy in the world and it has been forecasted that it may take over the United States to become the world’s largest economy in a decade from now. Being the world's most populous nation, it can be achieved. The Chinese has demonstrated to the world of its ability to perform since the successful staging of the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. The success of its space programme and the speed of its industrialization, from building bullet trains to airplanes have open a floodgate of opportunities for the world's economy. With an average growth of about 8% for the last decade, it has propelled China's foreign reserves to more than USD3 trillion, making it the highest in the world.
Can we learn something from the Chinese?

It makes me wonder, what will be the history of the world in general and Malaysia in particular be now, if Admiral Zheng Ho had set out to conquer the world and Malacca.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

In the older history of China record shows, Chinese government of Mainland China had no intention to disturb and plan to conquer other countries over the sea far away from its land. It was because of Confucian philosophical factor.
During the Chin dynasty, there were few times the Chin Emperor set war invading against Japan but, were defeated by Japanese army.
Even today of China government diplomatic policy is to be befriended with other countries around her. But the unification of tradition China border lands such as Taiwan and Tibet is her priority to tightly cling on. Politically disallow those two lands being disconnected from her. They must within the fold of China government. This is China tradition.

cancan said...

Yes indeed,engann,even today the Chinese govt.is establishing diplomatic relations throughout the world to expand and explore its economy: from the poor countries of Africa to the hostile environment of the Middle East, from the developed west of United States to Europe and from the developing countries like Malaysia to the Hermit Kingdom of North Korea.