Consider, his study is very complicated and takes a lot of effort. I can’t understand his whole study in just 1 hour. So, I just focus on one or two points about his lecture.
Firstly, I really like one of his metaphors. He said, “China is just like a ‘big brother’ to several Asian countries.” Actually, we do have this kind of calling in China. If you want to count on somebody, you may call that person “big brother”. You are the “younger brother”. So, because of that calling to China “big brother”. Obviously, we can see China’s position to those Asian Countries in East and Southeast Asia. Also, he mentioned two countries Vietnam and North Korea. He said that those two countries are just like China’s “younger brothers”. Actually, that’s true. When America tried to invade Vietnam in 1980s, China sent troops to help Vietnam to defeat America. Also, something happened in North Korea much earlier. In 1950, America and some other western countries invaded Korea. China sent “Volunteering Troops” to North Korea to help them to defeat America. It is called the Resist America and Aid Korea. I think that depends on these two actions China did before, China acted the “Big Brother” in that way. Also, considering socialism, China is the “Big Brother” to North Korea. Nowadays, China is getting stronger and stronger day after day. Politically, nobody can’t ignore China. Economically, China is one of the fastest places in the world. Also, no investor can’t ignore China. In the lecture, somebody asked about the comparison between China and America. I don’t think China can be and want to be “the role” in the world just like America is playing now. Because, to chase America, China still has a long way to go. For example, America has a lot of military bases all around the world. One of them is located in Okinawa, Japan. From this point, China is the “Big Brother” in East Asia. But, China is smart. It has got a lot of support from the “third world”. Those countries are not satisfied with America. So, from that point, China is the “Big Brother” in the “third world”. Let’s take a perfect example, Sichuan earthquake just happened three weeks ago. Actually, China needs a lot of goods and materials. Pakistan which is not a very rich country gave China 22260 tents to help Chinese victims. 22260 tents are all of Pakistan’s goods and materials for military storage. There is country which can donate all of its goods and materials for military storage to help its “big brother”. That’s a really deep friendship.
To sum up, it is hard to say what way or what role China is going to be in the future. Maybe China could be the next America someday. But, from Prof. Anthony Reid’s lecture, we can have a general idea about this really hot topic and start thinking about it.
