Xie Tao: China or U.S. - Who Owns the "Pacific Century"?

In early 1941, when America was still standing by as a neutral observer of the European battlefield, Time Magazine founder Henry Luce wrote an essay calling on his countrymen to abandon isolationism, assume the role of democratic missionary and establish “the first great American century.”

 

Fast forward to another American essay, delivered last month by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the eve of the 19th gathering of leaders of the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum. Clinton described how America’s strategic focus over the next decade will shift to the Asia-Pacific region. This, she declared, will establish “America’s Pacific Century.”

 

Seventy years separate these two expressions, and yet the ambition of the United States to attempt to dominate the world remains the same.

 

However, unlike 70 years ago, with wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the worst economic recession since 1929, and its government facing a severe debt crisis, America’s strength has been largely reduced.

 

Even more important, 70 years ago China was poor, backward and struggling to push back the Japanese invasion. It has now grown into the most influential country of the Pacific’s western rim, and plays an increasingly important role in international affairs.

 

At the start of the 21st Century, many believed it would be “China’s Century.” So Clinton’s words beg the question: is this going to be “America’s Pacific Century” or “China’s Century”?..