President Obama is now in Asia. The highlight of his visit is China.
When Chairman Mao died in 1976, China was a backward country with severe poverty, devastated by the Culture Revolution. In 1978, Deng Xiaoping became the leader of China. Deng visited the U.S. in 1979, the first official visit for a leader of China since the establishment of the People's Republic in 1949. He was very impressed by the infrastructure in the United States. Upon his returning to China, he urged his countrymen to learn from Americans.
What a difference three decades make. Progresses in China during these years are unprecedented: Millions are lifted from poverty; international trade flourishes; and foreign reserve leaps from non-existence to the biggest in the world. China is now the biggest creditor of the U.S.
It is easy to get into China bashing these days: human right abuses, poisoinous toys, intellectual property priracy, cheap labors, pollutions, and etc etc. Whining about China as you want, you would be blind to reality if you do not admit that China has done something right during these years. China has benefited greatly from its interaction with the U.S. since Deng's visit. It is time for President Obama and the U.S. to learn a thing or two from China.
(1) Laser-beam focus on the economy. Yes, it has been "it is economy, stupid!" for the last three decades in China. The Chinese communist (in name only) government knows it can maintain its grip on power only if its citizens are prosperous and happy. While we fight "the war on terror" and dig ourselves deeper and deeper in the middle east conflicts and the Iraq and Afghan wars, China has been busy building airports, high-speed railroads, highways, and selling us products.
(2) "It does not matter whether it is a white cat or a black cat, as long as it catches a mouse, it is a good one", proclaimed Deng Xiaoping. Pragmatism is the rule: It does not matter whether it is socialism or capitalism, as long as it works, it is "socialism with Chinese character". Instead of endless partisan bickering, China has chosen to "wading across a river by feeling the rocks" (Deng's words). While we are still having endless debates on health care and climate change, the Chinese have forged ahead. They now provide basic health care for their hundreds of millions underprivileged peasants, and they are now working on renewable energy---building wind mills in China and in the U.S.
(3) Low key and non-interference foreign policy. The cold war ended twenty years ago, yet we still maintain our cold war mentality. We flash our military hardwares around the world. We needlessly meddle in the middle east conflicts and blindly side with Israel. What do we get in return? "islamic terrorism"?! While we self-proclaim to promote freedom and democracy, China focuses on trade. China has now surpassed the U.S. as the leading trade partners in many countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America. China is now E.U.'s largest trading partner and Japan exports more to China than to the U.S.
Yes, China is still an authoritarian country, lacking of basic human right, free press, and democratic election. They still have a long way to catch up with our living standards. However, according to the polls by the Pew Center, while a majority of Americans think their country is headed in the wrong direction, the Chinese overwhelmingly believe their country is on the right track. It is ironic that we still feel the need to lecturing the Chinese how they should run their country.
Visiting Shanghai and Beijing and coming back to New York and Chicago, one cannot but be impressed by the shining and efficient airports and subways there and be depressed about the aging and decaying infrastructure here. President Obama is an intelligent person. Hopefully, he will have the strength and courage to end the maddening wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, curtail the military industrious complex, and focus on rebuilding America.