So Far, It Just Isn't Looking Like Asia's Century

WP ^ | 09/07/08 | Joshua Kurlantzick

[TigerLikesRooster]

So Far, It Just Isn't Looking Like Asia's Century

By Joshua Kurlantzick

Sunday, September 7, 2008; Page B03

So much for the Asian century. The Thais are bickering with themselves, and when they're done doing that, they'll bicker with the Cambodians -- again. China may be Japan's biggest trading partner, but they hate each other anyway. Malaysia and Indonesia? Two countries divided by the same language.

I've spent a lot of time in Asia over the past decade, as an expat and a traveler. From where I stand, the place is a geopolitical mess. Hogtied by nationalism and narrow self-interest, the countries of the East won't be banding together to replace the West as the seat of global power -- at least not anytime soon.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Asia would not waltz its way to prosperity and global dominance as some business expert or CFR gurus love to imagine.

So many of them have a view of near-utopian world where recession and international conflicts are brief and local, with no power to unravel regional or global order, that is, status quo.

What can happen is that the status quo, whether it is economy or geopolitics, would be radically rearranged.

Situation will go out of what major world players can contain and stabilize. Experts always love to project the future which they have some good control over, more of their wish than the real prediction.

[SatinDoll]

“Hogtied by nationalism and narrow self-interest,..”

Sounds just like Europe for quite a few centuries in the past.

I don’t expect Asia or Africa or Latin America to be different than Europe. None of those places is better or worse than Europe has been in the past. One solution does not fit all and I suppose there will be some very nasty, vicious wars in the aforementioned places before some semblance of civilized interaction is finally achieved. But I am laying odds that there will be a uniqueness to each, something special and not shared with any other geopolitical entity.

[proxy_user]

Economic advances seem impressive at first, until you see what wealth brings in its wake. All kinds of strange ideas can now get funding and be put into practice.

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

Things can change. Fast. It wasn’t that long ago that the nations of Europe were at each other’s throats, now they’re in a geopolitical union that is well on the way to becoming a federal nation in it’s own right....

[TigerLikesRooster]

People tend to think, not just in Asia, that they are getting smarter at the same pace that new gadgets are coming out in the market.

Owning and operating a cutting-edge computer or cellphone gives you the false sense of improved intelligence. It is dead wrong. such an illusion breeds hubris.

[ovrtaxt]

The Trilateral Commission better get busy!

[TigerLikesRooster]

Only after they destroyed themselves into oblivion.

[TigerLikesRooster]

I am sure they are furiously writing papers and books to reassure their own view of the future, make sure it would happen that way. Next come seminars, opulent gatherings at Davos, Dubai, or other fancy places. All big wigs of some name recognition would turn up and try hard to "move and shake" their world.

They did not see wonderful global economy(and its invincible finance) running into the ground (or falling off the cliff?) So they are not really competent. They think they are a lot more capable than they really are. Busy bodies generating more problems than solutions.

[ovrtaxt]

The worldwide central banking system is on life support. Problem is, control freaks can use financial misery to consolidate power.

[TigerLikesRooster]

They could succeed in part of the globe. It would kill them to see that there are other regions(of substantial size) they cannot control.

[ovrtaxt]

Yep. As for the US, the Second Amendment is a wonderful thing.

[flowerplough]

In the coming "Asian Century", Chinese and Indian sex-selective abortions will continue to give both countries a burdensome overload of horny, aggressive, spoiled, single young men. Don't know where the the Hindoo testosterone surge will take India, other than across their border with Pakistan, but China's man-child horde will retake Taiwan, probably over-awing and assimilating the island without too many shots being fired. They'll also probably trump up some battle with Japan over disputed islands; the Chinese need to see Japanese blood flowing, in revenge for Japan's many, many World War II atrocities. Both of these goals will be accomplished as the West looks on and whines and complains a little, thus accomplishing China's third goal of being seen as a First World equal. The Chinese will take great pride in ignoring the decadent West while smashing and grabbing.

Russia : parts of Georgia today :: China : Taiwan tomorrow

[August West]

“The Legend of Suriyothai” is an American version of the film. The original (longer and more difficult to follow) is simply “Suriyothai.” But the author of this piece really showed his ignorance when he stated that:

1.) Thailand and Cambodia were on a war footing recently. Not quite. Troops were sent to the border for show.

2.) The Thais were really upset that “a Singaporean company would have control over sensitive Thai communications infrastructure.” Well, that’s a valid concern, but they were upset mainly because Thaksin sold the communications company and did not have to pay any tax.

I think Asia/Pacific will not become the global center of power, because it already IS the center of power.

[JimSEA]

Thaksin sold the communications company and did not have to pay any tax.

The straw that broke the elephant's back. At the center of the PAD / PPP confrontation is corruption and vote buying. without a resolution of this problem, people like Samak and Thaksin will continue to exploit the economy, cozy up the the thugs in Burma and use a truly minor dispute with Cambodia to manipulate the vote (both sides guilty here). Big business is afraid of an uncontrolled, free economy and the poor don't understand the benefits it might give them.

[Mount Athos]

Wow that is a really good comment.
I’ll have to remember that.