Friday, June 01, 2007 Roperos: Ascendant China By Godofredo M. Roperos Politics Also
IF the survey conducted by a Washington D.C opinion poll taker on the state of the world’s economy is to be taken seriously, we should be seeing China catching up with the United States.
The survey indicated, however, that regardless of how China’s economy has performed a high percentage of Chinese have expressed reservation on their country’s economic performance.
But nations included in the survey as respondents did express the view that China’s economy has the capability to catch up with that of the US. Where they expressed deep concern, however, is in the area of responsibility.
The concern is that economic might in the hands of China might upset the social and political equanimity that now pervades in a world economically dominated by the US, along with such other lesser economies as the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, and Canada.
Many years back when I visited China as guest of the Chinese Writers Association, my itinerary called for night travel from Beijing to Nanjing, and took us about the whole night by train.
All through the length of our travel, we met railway cars kilometers long loaded with coal and other mineral deposits hauled from various parts of China and brought to the national capital’s factories and processing plants. It occurred to me then that China was like a sleeping economic giant suddenly awakened.
At that time, China still had belligerent diplomatic stance against Asean and the West, even if it had a warm attitude to the Philippines more than other Asean members.
In fact, in Guillin, South China, where I was requested to write for a feature in the university magazine, I learned that they studied Rizal’s books, and had a translation of “Mi Ultimo Adios” in Chinese. In Beijing, in a music lounge where we were invited one evening, one of the singers sang “Dahil sa Iyo” both in Chinese and Filipino.
In the Philippines, Chinese influence has seeped through our lives that we do not seem to notice. The entry of Chinese goods, from herbal medicines to bric-a-brac items like battery-operated miniature fans that are sold cheap in our bazaars and department stores are open reminders of the strength of the contemporary Chinese economy.
Indeed, the ascent of China to a global economic power equaling the US appears inevitable. China should serve as a role model for all the countries in Asia which are still struggling for economic stability.
