NEWS: BBC Poll shows China's influence seen as positive

A BBC World Poll has shown that China's rising influence is seen in a positive light across the World. Most people see China's influence as more positive then the United States and Russia. Concerns, however were voiced about China's growing military.



Most of Southeast Asian countries now see China as a positive influence with the exception of Japan. This however is not serious, as 53% of Japanese did not offer an opinion.

It is heartening to see that a majority of Indians also see Chinese influence as a positive. I think that in order for China and India to be successful in the new century, the two countries would need to work together.

It is heartening to see that a majority of Indians also see Chinese influence as a positive. I think that in order for China and India to be successful in the new century, the two countries would need to work together.

Key word missing here when applied to "influence": economic.
Another aspect not mentioned is:

from the article
But China's growing military might appears to be a less welcome aspect of its increasing global standing.

Only 24% of respondents said a rise in China's military power was a positive development, while 59% said it was negative.

Among the most concerned nations were Australia, Japan and the US, as well as many European nations.

The EU is currently considering lifting its embargo on arms sales to China.

What does India think concerning China's continued military build-up? Economics is one matter and India may be very positive on this, but military influence is an entirely different matter and can reverse the positive economic outlook, considerably.

All-in-all, for China to step up to the plate as a world broker or superpower, it has to grow in both areas. It seems that they, as with India, are doing so. They are or could be the upcoming future superpowers. Time will tell.





seekerof

Originally posted by Seekerof
Key word missing here when applied to "influence": economic.
Another aspect not mentioned is:

Yes, absolutely, i agree.

It remains to be seen how much, if not all, the influence is based on pure economic reasons. And this is not only with India, but with the whole world.

What does India think concerning China's continued military build-up? Economics is one matter and India may be very positive on this, but military influence is an entirely different matter and can reverse the positive economic outlook, considerably.

All-in-all, for China to step up to the plate as a world broker or superpower, it has to grow in both areas. It seems that they, as with India, are doing so. They are or could be the upcoming future superpowers. Time will tell.

The military build-up could influence political decisions but as long as both India and China build up they military, the balance will not be deterred.

While China is currently in better shape, the fact the the US and Russians are more eager to help india build up arms is not necessarily a bad thing for India or China.

It could keep the military balance in check.

Russia is not worried about 'balance'.
Its concern is profits, hence its military sales to both India and China.


seekerof

Even if China continues to build up it's military I don't it's going to go on a conquering spree like so many people think it is. They just have too much to lose. They just want to be a contender. In their minds being a contender means swinging around a big........military.

Originally posted by Flinx
Even if China continues to build up it's military I don't it's going to go on a conquering spree like so many people think it is. They just have too much to lose. They just want to be a contender. In their minds being a contender means swinging around a big........military.

Thats not what the best military minds of the CHinese say, and what they say the goals of China are. First, the Chinese want Taiwan to be recognized as their territory, when it has never been theirs, yet they proclaim they will do everything in their power to stop the independence of Taiwan...

If anyone has truly invaded countries to keep them as their territory, CHina is one of those countries.

This is pretty bad news that many in the world see China in a good way, when everyone knows China has one of the worse human rights history in the world...

[edit on 5-3-2005 by Muaddib]

Originally posted by Muaddib
Thats not what the best military minds of the CHinese say, and what they say the goals of China are.

Care to introduce me to some, it could improve the qualities of my post.

If anyone has truly invaded countries to keep them as their territory, CHina is one of those countries.

Tibet is the only thing i can think and that is highly debatable. (which i don't want to do)
Are you insinuating that throughout China's 5000 year history that it has gone of rampages and kept territories?
Please, keep your lack of historical knowledge to yourself.

This is pretty bad news that many in the world see China in a good way, when everyone knows China has one of the worse human rights history in the world...

I think your missing the point, the article deals mainly with "economic influence".

Originally posted by Seekerof
Russia is not worried about 'balance'.

Its concern is profits, hence its military sales to both India and China.

seekerof

I suppose they arent allowed to fully adhere to the Democratic Capitalist ideals that the US rammed down their throats eh?

I love the balance the United States has spread around the World. Cant you feel the love

Technically Taiwan was part of China for a couple hundred years. It was conquered by the Manchu Dynasty and they ceded it to the Japanese in 1895.

A lot of articles I've read say this is one of the main reasons they want to take over Taiwan so badly. That was so long ago though, it's ridiculous.

In order to set up a series of buffer zones around the ‘Celestial Empire’ the Manchus continued an expansionist policy, conquering Taiwan in 1683, and setting up Mongolia, Tibet and Burma as ‘protectorates’ in 1696, 1724 and 1769 respectively.

The Manchu (Qing) Dynasty

Originally posted by Duzey
Technically Taiwan was part of China for a couple hundred years. It was conquered by the Manchu Dynasty and they ceded it to the Japanese in 1895.

A lot of articles I've read say this is one of the main reasons they want to take over Taiwan so badly. That was so long ago though, it's ridiculous.

What? 100 years is a long time. Duzey, do you realise that China has at least a 4000 year old history (some accounts put it at 5-6000), 100 years is nothing.

Originally posted by rapier28
What? 100 years is a long time.

I come from a young country, so to me 100 years seems like a long time. But I suppose to the Chinese it's not that long at all, compared to the history.

Point taken.

But you are right, sentiments can change in 100 years, for example, even 20 years ago independence for Taiwan would not have being called for by the Taiwanese.

Like the old curse says 'May you live in interesting times'.

It is a very delicate issue for the Chinese government, and one they have a lot of emotional investment in. They will not let Taiwan go quietly, I think. They can be very patient and wait decades, because as you pointed out, that is very little time in the big picture. I think they would almost rather invade and be beaten (if that was the case) than let Taiwan go without a fight, again.

People are talking as if it was government officals that were polled not the general population. One of the reasons people like the idea of China having increased influence in the world is because China keeps it's hands to itself and unlike the US and cold war Russia it does not have military bases in various countries around the world. Nor does it try to force it's way of life on people like the US does (unless they see it as part of China that was taken from them by colonial empires of old) and Russia did in the past. People see China as being able to keep the US in check by economic means by the next 40 years, which should lead to less wars started by the US and countries might dare to ask the US to abandon it's overseas bases if they are less of an economic power. Geet off me land

That said, the citizens of America and those in their armed forces and generally polite, well mannered and respectful. The people who live near the bases don't mind them at all for the most part because of this. It's just the principle of having foreign troops/bases in Australia that i don't like, we lost no war.

[edit on 6-3-2005 by Trent]