Daily Lessons from Life 18 December 2010 - National Interests and Not Values

The Business Times article on the ascent of China's global power on 18 December 2010 commented that China is NOT interested in other people behaving 'like us' as long as their national interests are not hurt! This is unlike the model operated by the USA where it believed that everyone should be 'like us' - 'like Americans'!!

Lessons for me are:

1. the US model is a delusion as it is not exactly the best model for human race to follow despite its many strengths. It has its weaknesses too. e.g. the billion dollar political campaign, the dogged 2-party system, the lies and hypocracies of some of its international policies, etc;


2. the China model is really mercenery in nature at this stage of its national development. Trade with us, even fear us, and you don't have to be 'like us'! Pragmatic. Realistic. Not the ideal model too. The final decision is to be made by the nations that trade with China. Their people decide what type of political system they really want. Of course, the USA has been known to prop up autocratic leaders just to safeguard its own national interest. e.g. Noriega, Marcos, Saddam Hussein, etc;

3. ideally there should be a mixed model where nations are clear about why they are in alliance as well as the knowledge that their people decide what type of political systems they want in their own countries. Hopefully the exchange is as fair as possible and with the long term benefits and survival of Mother Earth as the predominant thought.

For now, honestly, the USA should try to sort its own house in order before ordering anyone around the globe to be like them!