Gordon Chang muddies the water again

Source:Global Times Published: 2014-6-19 0:38:01

Gordon G. Chang, author of The Coming Collapse of China, contributed a piece to Forbes with the title "If Anyone Bombs Iraq, Shouldn't It Be China?"

He said China's interests are bigger than the US in Iraq, and Washington should let China "put its navy in harm's way."

There is a discussion in Western academia and public opinion that suggests China should take due responsibility for the current situation in Iraq. Chang's statement shows that he is a representative of this idea.

Chang's views about China are basically established on his personal wishes or bigoted mindset.

He prophesied "the collapse of China" 13 times, and none of them became reality.

It's not a convincing conclusion that China's interests in Iraq are bigger than those of the US just based on Chang's so-called academic research. With imports of about 1.5 million barrels of crude oil from Iraq each day, China tops all the rest, but such a single parameter is not enough to rank China and the US in terms of their interests in Iraq.

The US dependence on the Middle East for oil is declining, while that of China increases. But in the entire pattern of interests, the US still has a much larger share than China.

Washington will unlikely stand aside from the Middle East. On the one hand, Israel's security is the responsibility of the US. On the other hand, maintaining dominance in the Middle East is a pivot of Washington's global hegemonic strategy.

Washington also needs to safeguard the dollar denomination of the global oil trade, a foundation of its financial hegemony. Of course, after more than a decade of involvement in Iraq, a public acknowledgement of failure would deal another heavy blow to US credibility.

The presence of the US in the Middle East is never about the public interest. Washington cannot duck its responsibility for Iraq's current nightmare. China isn't pursuing global hegemony. Despite growing interests there, it has more leverage than the US.

Even though its benefits in the Middle East demand China strengthen its involvement in the region, a US-style military intervention will not be China's option.

China respects the choice of local people, including the indigenous political and social landscape. We can offer help, but won't impose our will.

A declining national strength is behind the US incapability to draft an effective strategy to deal with the asymmetric challenge from local rebels. The mighty US military has won all the battles in the Iraq, but lost the entire war. 

Iraq's situation will not be completely reversed where the current consequence would be extended to a certain extent.

For China, the priority should be making sure of the safety of personnel and assets in Iraq. Meanwhile, deeper involvement in the Middle East will be a trend that China cannot escape in the long run. This will need careful planning.



Posted in: Editorial

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