From the International Herald Tribune:
The rise of a great power is never smooth or painless and China’s is no exception, as its economic strength and strategic ambition generate fear and uncertainty among its neighbors, along with profit and opportunity.
Already the world’s third-ranked trading nation behind the United States and Germany, China is poised to become a leading maritime power with the military muscle to protect its seaborne trade, including the oil imports that are vital to its economic survival.
That same naval power could be used to enforce China’s territorial claim to Taiwan, should Beijing so choose.
This is reshaping the post-Cold War order in Asia as most of China’s trading partners and neighbors seek to preserve or strengthen existing security alliances while maintaining access to a market that is becoming a major driver of global growth.
