Book stirs controversy over Middle Kingdom's ambitions

• Source: Global Times
• [23:57 November 01 2009]
• Comments

As China grows, it is certainly a good thing that Europeans and Americans may read more Confucius. But this will not prevent Chinese from studying more Shakespeare or Hemingway either.

In the future, Americans may indeed watch more Chinese films and study Putonghua. But, by the same token, Chinese will continue to learn from the West, as China's wholesale import of Western capital, business practices and technology demonstrates. This process is not limited to China and the West, but also exists between China and its friends of the Oriental and Middle Eastern cultures.

Back in 1979, Ezra Vogel, an American academic, wrote a book entitled Japan as Number One (Harvard University Press, May 1979). Decades have passed, with Japan enjoying tremendous growth and suffering from setbacks.

I really wonder if it is still necessary to make any predictions of the same nature about China at all.

However, the book can be a great reminder that there is always a need for China and the rest of the world to communicate about each others' agendas, visions and ambitions.

While China takes actions to find the most appropriate ways to communicate, others certainly can help, even with a book threateningly entitled When China Rules the World, so long as it creates real debate, and isn't just a trick to sell more copies.

Tian Wei is the host of “Dialogue” on CCTV's English Channel, and the main anchor of CCTV's special coverage of important domestic and international events. Previously, Tian worked in Washington D.C. as a correspondent, and covered the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Her blog is http://blog.cctv.com/html/09/960109.html. Reach her at tianwei.gt@gmail.com