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For Japan, the world re-ordering change is the spectacular and spectacularly rapid rise of Chinese economic, political, and military power–the portentousness of which is compounded because it has occu

21 Comments

Forbes columnist Stephen Harner

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The only problem is military part of it. No one, not even Chinese, gains with growing military power of China.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

"Portentousness"? The guy's got a bigger ego than vocabulary. I haven't seen such an specious example of pretentiousness in months. And he's a 'columnist'? Obviously not a writer.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I think Japan has no problem with China's economic growth. It is the continual insistence to do the opposite of what the civilized world believes in that is the problem.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

IMO, this is a fair statement. Japan for several decades took pride in its rise to become the #2 economy in the world -- the so-called "Japan Miracle". And the sense that Japan may have "lost the war but was winning the peace", especially as it went on a buying spree of high-value foreign assets like Pebble Beach, Sony, etc. Now, given the over two-decade stagnation in Japan, it is China that is riding this wave.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Portentousness? I only see China's stupidity and decline.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Sorry, is my fault. I prayed for the fall of Japan and the rise of China.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

'Portentousness? I only see China's stupidity and decline.'

Funny, the rest of the planet has been watching, discussing and in some cases, fearing or profiting from China's rise. My job wouldn't exist, and possibly the company I work for wouldn't still exist, without this rise. The nationalists' fear and hate distorts and debauches their thinking and it is why they shouldn't be taken seriously.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

It was OK for Japan to rise in the 70's and 80's, wasn't it? As one of the largest by area and the largest by population, and, with a rich cultural history, it's natural for China to think that they are assuming a rightful place among the top countries in the world pecking order. It's time for others to come to grips with the fact that China is no longer the "Sick man of Asia." I am not a fan of the communist regime by any stretch of the imagination, but that is a different debate.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

To be fair Japan spent the good times building an infrastructure, not really seeing much evidence China has used her time in the sun as well and time is running out as they've already peaked.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

While its true Japan rose & did well for a long time & has been in serious decline for over 20yrs now & looks set to continue that way.

Meanwhile China has risen at a rapid rate & I think its peaking already in more & more ways & since the govt & people of China don't trust each other I think we will also see China decline in VERY rapid fashion that is going to have rather severe consequences for Chinese people, its govt & its neighbours when that fire cracker explodes and/or implodes setting off China rapid decent!

Watch out!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I have to keep hoping that the world re-ordering will eventually result in a unified Earth that can eventually invent warp speed and join a United Federation of Planets.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

News today is that Samsung has seen lower profits than it has in the past, so Korea is not far behind Japan when it comes to decline in Asia. China had better enjoy their trip to the top, their stay on the summit is likely to be as brief as everyone else who has climbed that mountain, except, of course, America, which seems to have built itself a home up there. Of course, if America gets any more "Change We Can Believe In", they are likely to get booted off the mountain, and fall into the economic abyss everyone else seems to be sliding into.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

People have been predicting China's 'implosion' since Deng's reforms over 30 years ago. Some are still doing it. Have they all read the same book or article? They always use the word 'implosion' - usually with a 'mark my words' thrown in there.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

"China implosion"? never heard of.

A little google search.

China implosion 501,000 hits

China explosion 54,900,000 hits

China collapse 126,000,000 hits

China crash 111,000,000 hits

China fall 402,000,000 hits

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

With 1.3 billion people, is it even possible that China will not soon become the #1 economy and stay there forever?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Google Chinese Ghost town or 鬼城 and you'll see how serious mainland China's down fall is right now.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

'Google Chinese Ghost town or 鬼城 and you'll see how serious mainland China's down fall is right now.'

There are things you can google related to pretty much any country to show its supposed downfall. Google something about Japan's debt and you'll find dire warnings of economic Armageddon. I've heard some Chinese people gleefully talking about this with the same relish some Japanese people are anticipating China's supposed downfall. I think both are going to be disappointed. Time to move on.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Jimizo

Not in the amount mainland China has. In Japan you may see one or two buildings that had been abandoned AFTER several years of usage but with Chinese 鬼城 they haven't been used and it isn't one or two building either they have a whole city of 鬼城 that have never been inhabited nor ever will be.

No way are they going to recover from that kind of economic mismanagement.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

'No way are they going to recover from that kind of economic mismanagement.'

That's quite a prediction and I'm not sure why you are using the word 'recover' here. With all respect, I don't think your example can be taken to show how the entire Chinese economy is doomed. I recommend a reading of 'China Goes Global:A Partial Power' for an academic study of China's present economic and possible future economically and otherwise from a writer who gives a balanced view of this. There are those who think decades of economic mismanagement from the LDP has created a Japan with such a crushing debt that it can never recover. I've spent some time in China and there are some who believe this but it seems more based on hope than reality. I get the same feeling from some in Japan about China.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

China has a massive elephant in the room lingering - and that's corruption at the highest levels of government. There are over 30 BILLIONAIRES in its parliament alone! Reports last week claiming that local governments collectively blew $6.8 TRILLION between '08 - '11 on what have now become ghost cities. Why? To make things look good on paper and get their kickbacks, of course. I for one do not want to see China fall as it would spell the emd of the Australian economy, too. I don't think a full-blown implosion is far off, though.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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