The World from Berlin: China's View of Germany Is 'Flattering but Dangerous'

[sysop]

During her two-day visit to China, German Chancellor Angela Merkel tried to get Beijing on board for her efforts to rescue the euro. The Chinese leadership sees Germany as leading the European fight against the crisis. German commentators warn that Berlin should not let itself be seduced by Beijing's attention.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...853205,00.html

[Lim RC]

One must understand first that the Chinese system of government and culture and history is very very different from the West. With regard to the distaste for wars or the strong preference of the Chinese people for a strong central government stems from the chaos that resulted from the Warring States period (~600BC), the Three Kingdoms Period civil war (after the collapse of the Han Dynasty into different political factions ~200AD), the period of civil war during the An LuShan rebellion in the Tang dynasty that ravaged the countryside and brought poverty to the people (~850AD), the civil wars between the communists and Nationalists and weaknesses that led to the rapid Japanese advance in China, which was only halted at ChongQing - where unity led to successful defences from 1941 onward after 4 years of Japanese advances).

The Chinese have come over a period of 4000 years of history to respect stability and unity above all else. One must also realise that China is a huge country to govern and is for all intents and purposes still a developing and poor country. Also, while some Chinese leaders and people say they do not want Democracy/ western values/ systems of government, one must realise that these same leaders are actively learning the best ideas from the West as well, while cutting down on some of their excesses. These same ideas of civil institutions (which have never existed for the past 4000 years in China, and is a very very alien concept as everything was provided by the State) are beginning to be appreciated more as time goes by. Western notions of civil or human rights is not something that China does not understand as well, but it has a huge population to provide for and the sacrifices of a few to provide safety and stability for the rest is something that China will do. China is too poor to have the luxury of excessive individual rights. Having said that, the best way to promote human rights and democracy in China is actually to make the people richer. The richer they are, the more educated they are, the more demands they will have and this will inevitably lead to a more democratic system with free elections etc (still not fully, but definitely more at least legally as culturally, the people still would place society and the country before the individual.) As we speak, these same experiments are still being held across China in the village level and in certain counties (Special Political Zones if you will rather than Special Economic Zones). Likewise, the attitude of many in the West will determine if this will succeed. If they push too hard, the natural Chinese reaction will be to push back. So let democracy and human rights advance at its own pace. Afterall, in Europe, the push and advances towards democracy was a gradual process as well, and many did not become democratic only until the 20th century (e.g. UK, Germany, Italy, etc).

On the other hand, i think it is quite likely to say that if China collapses, it would probably bring their enemies down with them in mutual destruction e.g. nuclear war etc, as in Chinese history, the people and leadership will not stand for humiliation or defeat again, and will place their hopes that their long and ancient culture and civilization will survive the post-nuclear world. (yes sounds far fetched to you I know, but this is the view - as they have survived the mongols, plagues, Japanese invasion (where 30 million civilians were killed, and the capital captured twice but still did not surrender, eventually defeating them in major engagements from 1941 onwards).

However, China too is quite a benign power as per ancient times, with little want for war or intervention in foreign affairs (ie the world is free to do what it wants, as long as it does not affect China). China does not seek to impose her values on the world as that is quite a ridiculous and impractical thing to do (culturally speaking for the Chinese). China's rise will not mean that the West cannot practise democracy or keep their own values of human rights as many media like to suggest/ claim. However, what I can see changing is the way that developing nations will develop, with a focus on economy and access to basic food, water, education etc before shifting their governments towards full fledged democracy. Have a look at the Phillipines or the former USSR which have been democratic for over 30 years and you can see the huge difference in living standards. Likewise, the governments of the west and Japan, South Korea, Singapore all developed as authoritarian states before becoming democratic and prosperous.

(continued)

[Lim RC]

As a side note, while the Chinese people know they have different cultural values from Germany, they respect the German's culture and way of life, and especially the open way with which the Germans have apologised to Europe and dedicated teaching of their war-time past accurately. This is something very difficult to do and the Chinese people respect that very much. In fact, the Chinese people think that because of such forthrightness, the onus of German-Europe relationship should be on the other countries themselves, rather than the peaceful and industrious country of Germany.

There is huge room for cooperation between Germany and the Chinese people, not only from China, but also the Chinese merchants and people in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Phillipines, Indonesia, Cambodia, etc where they have a huge economic control of the market.

China wishes to see a prosperous Germany, and hope many countries will learn from Germany's peaceful stance, industriousness, as well as honesty with dealing with their own atrocities in the wartime past. All the best

Lim