Bernstein, Richard and Munro, Ross H. The Coming Conflict With China. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1997. 245 pages.

Authors Richard Bernstein and Ross Munro, two former Asia correspondents for Time magazine, argue that the next cold war is already emerging, with China in the lead as America's biggest headache. One problem is economic: America's trade deficit with China exceeded Japan's for the first time in June 1996. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is a major player behind China's stunning increase in exports, as well as its rapid appropriation of new technologies, using methods that range from fine-print trade deals to outright espionage. The takeover of Hong Kong made them that much stronger.

Economics is only part of the problem. Many Chinese, from leaders to ordinary citizens, are fundamentally nationalistic. They see China's ancient destiny as the complete domination of Asia. In this context, America is increasingly identified as the "global hegemonist" that stands in their way. As the U.S. tries to tie trade relations to the human rights issue, we are out-maneuvered every time. China knows that in the end, rich U.S. corporations want to get richer, and that's what really counts in the negotiations. Meanwhile, China's growing military -- already the largest in Asia -- continues to tweak Taiwan's nose now and then, in order to gauge the extent to which the U.S. may be prepared to intervene.
ISBN 0-679-45463-2

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