The U.S. and China: A Looming Checkmate

The U.S. and China: A Looming Checkmate
Date: March 20, 2006

The two leading countries of the 21st century are the United States and China. They are poised to self-destruct the world as we know it. This article will explain, from my point of view, why I believe this and why I think they will be playing an ongoing chess game with the other for decades to come.

First things first, China will not be able to match up with the United States’ air force and military capabilities for a long while. While the rest of the world’s combined warships only add up to 3.04 million tons, America has a full load displacement of 2.86 million tons. How much does China have? Their navy’s warships only add up to 263,064 tons. China has zero aircraft carriers while the United States has twenty-four. Having this in mind, why would Bush’s administration and the American media continuously stress about China’s 14 percent increase in military spending like they were preparing to declare war on say hypothetically the United States or Taiwan? They want to create fear in the American public. The reason? The Bush Administration has switched China’s status from strategic partner to enemy. With the military advancements China is establishing with the diesel-powered and nuclear-powered submarines, America feels they have lost their footing with the containment of China’s progress into the 21st century.

Second thing you need to know, I am a rookie. Everything I have said so far is not even close to a U.S.-China policy expert’s analysis. I can only tell you what I know. So if you feel like everything you have read so far is completely idiotic, feel free to stop reading now.

You’re still with me here? Wow, I had no idea a 17-year-old could hold your attention. Let’s move onto economics and world trade now shall we? America sees China’s economic and technological improvements as a threat. China is building better relations with regions in Asia and Australia. There is a huge invested interest in China from corporations and industries. China is a huge appeal to the world market because of Beijing’s race to catch up with the rest of the world as long as economics and drastic improvements of living within the country are concerned. They are on a non-stop race to meet the requirements of a First-World country standard for their country.

Ok, I’m almost done here. Just stay with me for a couple more minutes. The U.S. Pacific Command, otherwise known as PACOM, will be strategically attempting to create alliances with nations surrounding China. It is a chess move to isolate China’s alliances with Asian countries. A big part of the chess game between the United States and China right now is Taiwan. The only hold the United States have on the nuclear programs in North Korea and Iran is through China while it is the same case with China on the issue of Taiwan’s continuous attempts to declare independence. These games will continue for decades with military build-ups, economic markets, and strong disposable chess pieces. The only question is when will someone call checkmate and one powerful nation loses.

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Article Clippings
"... functional substitute for NATO of the Pacific already exists... the U.S. Pacific Command, known as PACOM. --- PACOM represents a much purer version of Bismarck's imperial superstructure."
"China, unlike the Soviet Union of old, boasts soft as well as hard power. Businesspeople love the idea of China; you don't have to beg them to invest there... China's mixture of traditional authoritarianism and market economics has broad cultural appeal throughout Asia and other parts of the world... because China is improving the material well-being of hundreds of millions of its citizens, the plight of its dissidents does not have quite the same market allure as did the plight of the Soviet Union's Sakharovs and Sharanskys."
"China has committed itself to significant military spending, but as navy and air force will not be able to match ours for some decades. The Chinese are therefore not going to do us the favor of engaging in conventional air and naval battles, like those fought in the Pacific during World War II. Instead the Chinese will approach us asymmetrically, as terrorists do. In Iraq the insurgents have shown us the low end of asymmetry, with car bombs. But the Chinese are poised to show us the high end of the art. That is the treat."
(How We Would Fight China by Robert D. Kaplan - The Atlantic Monthly)

"On the US side, by redefining China as its rival rather than strategic partner, the Bush Administration indicates that China is not at the key position in its Asian and Pacific policies. However, in China's foreign policies, the United States is important both economically and strategically, especially when dealing with the Taiwan issue."
(China and the US: A Unique Relationship by Zhu Shida - China.org.cn)

"Bush's recently agreement to condone India's nuclear weapons program and supply nuclear aid to India, has also underscored concerns in Australia that the United States is trying to forge closer military cooperation with countries that encircle China."
(U.S and Australia Take Different Tones on China's Rising Power by Steven R. Weisman - The New York Times)

"A highly classified intelligence report produced for the new director of national intelligence --- blames excessive secrecy on China's part --- of growing Chinese military capabilities. --- Critics of the study say the report unfairly blames intelligence collectors for not gathering solid information --- and for failing to plant agents in the communist government."
(Analysts missed Chinese buildup by Bill Gertz - The Washington Times)