The future of Sino-Occidental relations

A month ago, I blogged on China and I am currently reading about the Opium Wars which took place in the 19th century. It now appears that barely 200 years after that, we are back at a situation in which the Western powers are experiencing a trade deficit with China. And already the US and the EU have taken measures to prevent this, placing quotas on the importation of China-made textiles.

These powers were once so ready to force open China's markets and have found, once more, that they are on the losing end. These powers who champion free and open trade systems (when it suits and profits them) engage wantonly in protectionist measures. And to place themselves on a moral high ground, they raise the bogeyman of China's communist regime and human rights record. The day the West apologizes for the appaling Opium Wars and their regime's direct involvment in drug trafficking and takes steps for reparation will be the day they can take any moral high ground. Until then, such powers should get off their high horse!

I think we are in for a rough ride if superpowers with cowboy egos don't wise up a little and learn some humility and try to work together! A thoughtful article by Martin Jacques in today's Guardian voiced some of my thoughts giving rise to this post. I commend it to you.

Incidentally... today is the 190th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo which ended the Napoleonic Wars!