Unit 2 Lesson 3: Poking the Angry Dragon

China is everywhere in the news and not just because I am taking a class on modern China and, therefore, more aware of it. The Olympics have pushed China onto the world stage and now everyone has an opinion as to whether or not the country belongs there. But what does China think? How does China feel about being the center of attention? The latest issue of The Economist features this snarling dragon in its cover with the title "Angry China". The introductory article offers a fascinating look at the problems China faces as it walks onto the world stage.

China feels that it has earned its place on the world stage and cites the 2008 Olympics as their ticket in. The protests which have accompanied the torch relays throughout the world are seen as a case of sour grapes on the part of the West. To the Chinese, the protests are not indicative of their wrong doing but, rather, of the West's refusal to share the world stage. The Chinese government has effectively turned their citizens' gazes to the West rather than on problems closer to home, claiming that Western protests show a lack of respect for China. This could be an awkward and difficult policy to maintain. "While the government may distract Chinese people from their domestic discontents by breathing fire at foreigners, such anger, once roused, can run out of control." (The Economist)

China's position on the world stage is inevitable, they are simply too large to ignore. What China needs to understand, however, is that once they are on the world stage many of their domestic/internal affairs also become part foder for the world to discuss, criticize and demonstrate against. After the hoopla of the Olympics dies down, the Chinese people will once again turn their eyes inward. China's ills are not solely the product of the West. While we have a part in the pollution problems(we want our goods for next to nothing and damm the consequences), corruption and human rights abuses are China's alone. Eventually the populace is going to realize that the West is not their only enemy. The angry dragon is going to pull his head back in and begin to look critically at his own home. When that happens, the government had better be prepared with more than rhetoric blambasting the West.

The problem with poking an angry dragon is that you never know exactly where he is going to breath his fire. The Chinese government needs to be ready with fire extinguisher, reforms not rhetoric.