Did you know that a new 'Cold War' has begun?

All China has to do is call in it's debt markers with us and the fireworks will begin.

In my view, its not the same as the last Cold War where there were only 2 sides to pick from and not everybody was interconnected economically. The world has changed since the fall of the Berlin wall. Most are economically connected (except the fringe groups that are still about 100 years or so behind the rest of the world) and few are pushing for political dominance. Some would say there is more balance in the force in today's world.

This is not a war...not even a cold won. All it is right now is competition which is healthy for both countries. The biggest problem with the relationship between China and the U.S. is trust; neither side has any. Conflict is not inevitable, it is something we choose to do. We make decisions that look questionable to China, just as China makes decisions that look questionable to the U.S. There are a lot of arguments out there on how allowing China more of a role in the international community could be a very good thing - i.e. they would have more of a stake in the system and have influence commensurate to their economic clout. The biggest thing you have to understand about China is that it is a country 4 x the size of the U.S.!!!! In the past 30 years they have pulled 300 million (the population of the U.S.) out of destitute poverty. That is amazing, but they still have to do something for the other 900 million people or their system of government and economy will collapse. China will not call in U.S. debt because they have way too much to loose if they do; it would be the end of their economy as well. One of China's biggest concerns is that they import 80% of their petroleum from over seas on oil tankers. This means that the U.S. Navy in their waters or in the straits of Malacca makes them very nervous. I just wish that people would stop holding up China as a boogie man. We have enough problems to worry about elsewhere rather than worrying about ones that don't exist yet.