US wants China to be responsible "world leader"

[Plantman]

I especially like the part where they ask them to reduce their thirst for oil. Hmmmmmm!

US watches China's rising star with anxiety

1 hour, 44 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Top US officials, recognizing China's growing influence, say they are trying to persuade Beijing to act as a "responsible actor" on the world stage amid disagreements and rivalry between the two powers.
ADVERTISEMENT

With China's rising star dominating the
World Economic Forum in Davos, US representatives sounded a note of apprehension about Beijing's diplomacy.

US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice said it was up to Washington and other powers to encourage China to act as a "stakeholder" in the international arena and not merely pursue its own economic interests.

"Now, the rise of China is something we don't only take note of, but we believe that there is an obligation by all of the powers, but perhaps particularly the United States, to engage in policies that will encourage ... the responsible stakeholder China, the China that sees it has an obligation in the international system to promote and, in fact, to defend peace and security," Rice said Thursday in a video conference at the Davos event.

"China is, after all, one of the permanent five members of the Security Council," Rice said.

Washington has been lobbying China to set aside its economic appetite for oil and back calls for
Iran to be referred to the UN Security Council over its nuclear program.

A crucial meeting on the issue is set for February 2 when the board of the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) convenes in Vienna.

But as the world's second biggest consumer of oil, China has remained reluctant given Iran's vast oil and gas reserves.

Deputy Secretary of State
Robert Zoellick, who has been meeting Chinese officials this week, said that Beijing was not "taking the exact same route as the US" on the Iranian nuclear issue.

According to Rice, Beijing has played an important role in six-party talks with
North Korea. This indicated that China "understands that it has a crucial role to play in not just commenting on security but actually promoting a more secure environment," she said.

As one of the biggest importers of raw materials from Latin America, China has made its mark in a region previously dominated by Washington.

China has signed a free trade agreement with Chile and brokered deals with Venezuela focused mainly on oil.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a vehement critic of the United States, sought to align his government with China when he said he rejected Taiwan's independence.

Bolivia's new leftist president, Evo Morales, travelled to China soon after his election victory, seeking to forge economic ties for his impoverished country with major natural gas reserves.

During his visit, Morales said that China was a "political and ideological ally of the Bolivian people."

In Africa, China's economic influence has raised concerns in Washington.

US Assistant Secretary of State for African affairs Jendayi Frazer recently expressed regret that China's investments in Africa have focused exclusively on raw materials.

"Certainly when you look at where China has invested its resources in Africa, it's primarily in oil-producing countries and the other place is in South Africa," Frazer said.

"So one would hope that China's investment would be broader and that it would contribute not only to China's development and growth, which is at such a high pace ... but it would also contribute to Africa's growth and development."

[Biodiesel300TD]

I am curretly reading a book called "Plan B 2.0" by Lester Brown. The book as all about how the world economy and environemntal policys are gonna have to change if China continues to grow like they currently are. China already consumes more of everything but oil than the US does. But their per capita consumption is still lower. If their per capita consumption catches up to the US's consumption the world will not be able to grow enough food, or resources to sustain the demand.

The US doesn't have any right to tell China to reduce their oil use while we still maintain our levels of use. "You can't use the oil, but WE can." This is the typical arrogant big brother US. I just realized. The US is no longer the powerhouse it used to be. We are going have to start fighting for our needs. Huh, This is going to be a eye opener for the US.

If China finds better, cleaner, and more sustainable ways to support their needs, the US is going to be a hurtin' unit when we get left behind.

Condoleezza Rice is a B!TCH.

Our American Tails are shaking because there is NO STOPPING CHINA. It already has a huge influence in the rest of the world. They don't/won't listen to us like all the other subservient nations. We finally have some equal competition that may cause our own demise. We are scared. TRUTH! If China wants to pursue its own interests, they WHY THE HELL NOT!!!!!????
After all, we pursue our global interests. We don't help anyone unless there is "something" in it for us, short term or long term, RIGHT? So why not let another global power to do as we do or we have done? Is it that we want to be the only super power in the world, a bunch of pompous arrogant asses who don't want to share the world with any other?
I think its about time we get off China's back and worry about our own problems. Can we not be happy for any other country that is "making it?" This I say as an American.

[Botnst]

Originally Posted by intelligent

Our American Tails are shaking because there is NO STOPPING CHINA. It already has a huge influence in the rest of the world. They don't/won't listen to us like all the other subservient nations. We finally have some equal competition that may cause our own demise. We are scared. TRUTH! If China wants to pursue its own interests, they WHY THE HELL NOT!!!!!????

After all, we pursue our global interests. We don't help anyone unless there is "something" in it for us, short term or long term, RIGHT? So why not let another global power to do as we do or we have done? Is it that we want to be the only super power in the world, a bunch of pompous arrogant asses who don't want to share the world with any other?

I think its about time we get off China's back and worry about our own problems. Can we not be happy for any other country that is "making it?" This I say as an American.

China is a totalitarian dictatorship whose actions over the past 60 years have resulted in the death of 50 million people. Aside from these little details, the Chinese government is a swell, fun-loving bunch.

Bot

[cmac2012]

Originally Posted by Botnst

China is a totalitarian dictatorship whose actions over the past 60 years have resulted in the death of 50 million people. Aside from these little details, the Chinese government is a swell, fun-loving bunch.

True. And in spite of this, we allow, encourage actually, their bailing out our overspending arses over and over.

And, we've been kind enough to train them in making a lot of the stuff we previously somehow made for ourselves. During the west coast longshoremen's strike, there was some concern that vital defense related electronics were waiting to be unloaded. (?!?) So now our military readiness is dependent, to some degree, on electronics from Asia, China included, no doubt.

Mao must be singing in his grave.

Originally Posted by Botnst

China is a totalitarian dictatorship whose actions over the past 60 years have resulted in the death of 50 million people. Aside from these little details, the Chinese government is a swell, fun-loving bunch.

Bot

How many people have our policies killed in the last 50 years as a direct result of sanctions, boycotts, etc. How many have literally starved because we (USA) have placed sanctions on countries whose leaders we did not like but still their people suffered? I think we may have killed just as many, plus minus a mil or so.

Originally Posted by Botnst

China is a totalitarian dictatorship whose actions over the past 60 years have resulted in the death of 50 million people. Aside from these little details, the Chinese government is a swell, fun-loving bunch.

Bot

Then why don't we pull INDIA'S chain for mistreating women which make up roughly 60-65% of the population in India which comes to about 700 million woman. What about the hundreds of thousands that have been burned alive due to dowry issues. USA does business with India because it is profitable for US companies but our ARSES shake if the same happens for China.
We need to get over the fact that China will be the next super power militarily as well as nuclear and economic. I don't think we can stop China. They will pass us by soon. Maybe a totalitarian dictatorship is the best type of government over there. Although I am a believe of democracy, I believe that democracy is NOT for everyone. A society must be very educated to be democratic so that they understand their rights. Countries made up of majority of people who cannot even write their names do not do well as a democratic country.
Thanks and have a great day

[oasis100]

Has anyone seen this new documentary China Rises?
It's being shown here in Canada on the CBC..

http://www.cbc.ca/chinarises/intro/index.html

Fascinating documentary about the politics, economy and people of China since the death of Chairman Mao.

[GottaDiesel]

China has already won the first half of the war. Economics.

They would win a war with us in about 12 months, tops. What do you think our cost of living index would be in the US if overnight you couldn't get things made in China? Face it 50% OR MORE of what you use, see, and have is made in China.

Sad situation, but that's how it is.

Have we, The United States of America been a "responsible leader"? hahaha

[dannym]

Originally Posted by GottaDiesel

China has already won the first half of the war. Economics.

They would win a war with us in about 12 months, tops. What do you think our cost of living index would be in the US if overnight you couldn't get things made in China? Face it 50% OR MORE of what you use, see, and have is made in China.

Sad situation, but that's how it is.

We would do without the stuff we don't need. The other stuff we would start manufacturing again like we used to do before the Govt cut to nothing the excise tax and sold us out.
More jobs, better tax base, more money into medicare, medicaid, social security....A big ripple effect through the whole economy. Maybe painful at first but in the long run we would be much, MUCH better off.

I say bring it on!

Danny

[TheDon]

im moving to switzerland screw this crap

[GottaDiesel]

Originally Posted by dannym

We would do without the stuff we don't need. The other stuff we would start manufacturing again like we used to do before the Govt cut to nothing the excise tax and sold us out.
More jobs, better tax base, more money into medicare, medicaid, social security....A big ripple effect through the whole economy. Maybe painful at first but in the long run we would be much, MUCH better off.

I say bring it on!

Danny

Wow, that's a nice dream sequence.

Our economy would hit the wall. Everything from seafood to shoes would triple (or more) in price. Do you have ANY idea what a simple drinking glass costs when it is made int he US v. China? Triple. Shoes? OMG. -- How is some rural slob that makes $10 an hour going to pay $50 for a CHEAP pair of shoes?

No way. China owns our ass.

[Nate]

We're playing a global king of the hill game... Were ontop, and I hope we stay there. I buy what I can from US, and would partake in Dans plan (similer to one me and my friend thought up)

$5 an hour min wage, less fatcats, less polititions... Why are we not trading with Cuba, when were trading with china...

China scares me, and I'm glad the bird flu's gonna kill 1/2 of us, and aids 98% of us (yes, some people ARE IMMUNE to aids) US is reffering to the world population...

So screw them, I dont like dictatorships... They dont float well, and smell like tators...

~Nate