I just read an article this morning about the Vice-President's trip to Asia and how the purpose of the trip was an attempt to reduce China's "growing influence" around the world.  Those were the writer's words, not the Vice-President's, by the way.  I assumed the writer was talking about finance, business, and economics.

So, my question is this.  Really?  Where is China's influence growing?

Europe, including Russia?  I think not.

North America?  I think not.

Asia Pacific (Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, India, Indonesia, Australia)?  I think not.

The Middle East?  I think not.

South America?  I think not.

Africa?  I think not, but maybe.

It makes me wonder if the writer was talking about China's influence with regards to the world's pollution and the pandemic instead of business, finance, and economics.  Yes, China has money stored away with which to make loans, but i would like writers who talk about China's growing influence to start telling me who is buying Chinese cars, Chinese computers, Chinese software, Chinese telecommunication equipment, Chinese farm products, Chinese pharmaceuticals, Chinese "modern" art and literature.

The words "made in China" do not mean the item with that tag is a "Chinese product".  It simply means it was made in China--no more than that.  Those same products could be produced elsewhere just as easily as they are in China.  And if anyone really wanted to reduce China's influence in the world, all they would have to do is shift their manufacturing elsewhere.  There are many alternatives to Chinese manufacturing.  Would "made in Indonesia" or "made in India" or "made in Brazil" or "made in Africa" really be all that different than "made in China"?  Tell me.

My brother (also a Wharton M.B.A. grad) once told me that he felt that something was not quite right about the Chinese economy.  And he was right.  The Chinese economy was built on a house of cards (i.e., manufacturing items at low costs).  Manufacturing products is different than creating products.  

If China's influence around the world is growing, then it is at a snail's pace.  And any time the world wants to put the screws on that pace, it can and it will.  I hate that the Vice President's trip to Asia coincided with the ugly mess in Afghanistan, but regardless, the message should have been the same.  The United States' influence around the world is growing and that influence is much, much greater than China's.  And if you do not believe me on that point, then ask me and i will prove it to you with real numbers (facts) to back my statement.  Don't listen to the damn economists.  Listen instead to our business leaders, who are in fact changing the direction of the world.

It has been proven before that in terms of business, finance, economics, the arts, science, and education that  "freedom will outpace authoritarianism".  So i say, damn you "economists" who try to make China something it is not.  Your comparative measurements (e.g., GDP) don't mean "jack" in terms of world influence.  If you want to use a measurement like that, then use GDP/capita.  There are a number of reasons that our government should ignore our doomsday economic leaders and listen to the words of our business leaders instead.  The former "pontificate", the latter actually "produce and lead".

So do not fret about China, America.  America is in control of the world's future and for once we have a President who understands that we are in control and in the driver's seat.  Don't despair about Afghanistan.  I do not like what is going on there myself, but that is going to be a blip in history.  The ongoing influence of "freedom" around the world, which began in 1776, is much greater than anything coming out of China these days.  A strong wind can blow over a "house of cards", but it will never topple "freedom" (especially when love, do no harm, the ethic of reciprocity, and exponential reality are thrown in as ingredients).  Globanomics is coming to the world.

I like you China, but don't think you can push the United States and its Allies around.  Try it and you will fail.  If you really want your influence to grow around the world, then free Hong Kong and get the nukes out of North Korea.  That would show the world how much influence you really have.  If you do that, China, even i will listen to what you have to say (as an input, of course).  Until then, however, you are just another also ran.