Academic

WALTER RUSSELL MEAD: In the Footsteps of the Kaiser: China Boosts US Power in Asia. Is China th?

By Glenn Reynolds

WALTER RUSSELL MEAD: In the Footsteps of the Kaiser: China Boosts US Power in Asia.

Is China the best friend of American power?

Beijing?s recent missteps in Asia ? moving ahead with reactor sales to troubled Pakistan and crudely threatening Japan over the arrest of a Chinese fishing captain ? are swiftly solidifying America?s Asian alliances. The new Japanese government came into office hoping to rebalance Japan?s foreign policy and reduce tensions with China. That dream is now dead. And China?s deepening relationship with Pakistan, intended in part as a counter to America?s nuclear opening to India, is driving Asia?s other emerging nuclear power closer than ever into the arms of America (and Japan). South Korea, once drifting peacefully toward China, has moved back towards the United States following China?s support for Pyongyang after the sinking of a South Korean naval boat.

In all this there is one clear theme. America isn?t containing China. China is containing itself.

It’s always a relief to know that our leaders aren’t the only idiots out there.

Full post as published by Instapundit.com on September 27, 2010 (boomark / email).