Commentary
Is communist China rising, cresting, or in decline? There are conflicting signals and news reports, as well as wishful thinking in multiple directions.
Let us examine the subject in two parts: the rise (part I) and the fall (part II).
The Rise
The willing and able assistance of virtually the entire post-World War II international order led by the United States facilitated communist China’s rise over the last 50-plus years through massive foreign direct investment, access to foreign markets, and free trade provisions that have greatly enabled China’s export economy.
In parallel, the communists have been busy penetrating, corrupting, and subverting international organizations and foreign governments, universities, and other institutions in their quest to become the world’s leading economy and military power by displacing the United States. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been pursuing a number of intertwined goals aimed at world economic dominance in all spheres, with considerable success in the areas of trade, economic policy, international law, technology acquisition, intellectual property, and other spheres of influence….