To the Editor:
Judith Shapiro’s review (June 18) of two recent books by Howard W. French (“Everything Under the Heavens”) and Graham Allison (“Destined for War”) uncritically reinforces two prevailing myths about modern China. Many Sinologists have labored for years to disabuse lay readers of the notion that contemporary China is a modern-day imperial dynasty bent on dominating Asia and beyond. But Shapiro (channeling French) buys into this delusion without any qualms.
Similarly, many international relations specialists have incisively challenged Allison’s flawed application of the so-called Thucydides’s Trap to Sino-United States relations, yet Shapiro sees the argument as confirmation of French. The overall result is yet another simplistic affirmation of the “China threat” thesis.
MICHAEL D. SWAINE
WASHINGTON
This letter to the editor was originally published in the New York Times.
Comments(3)
Many American Sinologists have made their careers being apologists for Zhongnanhai. The Chinese Communist Party has effectively used their control over access to China to shape and condition Sinologists. The sooner we take off the rose-colored glasses, stop believing that the Chinese will become responsible stakeholders if we just help them get richer, and view China as the single greatest threat to the liberal world order and inclusive economic system, the better off the world will be.
Responsible stakeholders is a funny concept. Have we been responsible stakeholders?
I agree with Concerned Citizen. Even today, when China is not yet on parity with the United States militarily, it already is displaying its hegemonic tendencies towards weak neighbors like the Philippines. China has taken over reefs and shoals that clearly belong to the Philippines. Even after the International Court of Arbitration ruled unanimously in the Philippines' favor China refuses to budge. China will be an extremely dangerous country if it ever becomes the world's preeminent superpower!
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