I fully agree with Francesco. What is missing is a truly meaningful, in-depth and in-breadth analysis of China today–all of it. Otherwise it seems simply a mass of contradictions. I have a strong intuition that in fact the Chinese leadership knows exactly what it is trying to achieve and has a reasonably good chance of achieving it–namely continued political control internally and spread of Chinese influence and power throughout East Asia, while facing the rest of the world with the choice between doing business with it or not doing business with it. But I leave it to those who know more about China than I do.
Norman A. Bailey
Norman A Bailey is the author of numerous books and articles and recipient of several honorary degrees, medals and awards and two orders of knighthood. He also teaches economic statecraft at The Institute of World Politics and has experience on the staff of the National Security Council at the White House, in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and in business, consulting and finance. He is professor emeritus in the National Security Studies Center, University of Haifa, and a columnist... More by Norman A. Bailey