In the Jaws of the Dragon

[mr tin]

Has anyone read this book? I am on page 45 and although the author's main theme is credible, his approach to the subject makes me a little skeptical. The main theme of the book can be summed up in one sentence "authoritarian Confucianism almost effortlessly out performs Western capitalism". I don't quarrel with this point, nor do I quarrel with his description of some false assusumptions that seem to still be taken for granted: "The Washington establishment is betting that a rich China will be a free one. .. Moreover, the very process of China's enrichment is supposedly serving to undermine the Beijing government's authoritarianism."My concern is that, while making his points, he attempts to undermine the credibility of anyone who has anything to do with China. Through a combination of carrots and sticks Beijing control our sources of information about china. For example he discusses china scholars as a group saying (without citing any evidence), "many of them quickly come to expect a level of "chop-chop" service on their visits that, in other parts of the world, is reserved for film stars and royalty". Of foreign correspondents (again with no evidence or examples), "Any aspect of Chinese reality that jars with the media's globalist background music tends to be downplayed or misrepresented."What troubles me the most is that he claims that Confucian values provide a moral justification for lying and deception that western politicians, scholars, business people and journalists never even suspect. The basis of this is the Confucian emphasis on the group - and no matter how you cut it, westerner's are always outside of the group that one must treat with sincerity. To sum it up "More than probably anywhere else in the world, East Asia is culturally equipped to make good use of American gullibility. For anyone who wants to understand how the East Asian system is changing the world, the beginning of knowledge is to understand the Confucian truth ethic."It is not that I beleive that China, Japan and Korean politicians and business people always tell the true. Rather the contrary. I expect all politicians and business people to say whatever they think will bring them the most power or money. And I assume any competent negotiator to understand this also.Okay, enough quotes. I find the book fascinating and disturbing because is seems to ring true on a number of points but the logical conclusion is that it will not be long before the greatest super power on earth is an authoritarian regime with an intolerance for free speech and distinct lack of concern for truth and human rights. I haven't gotten very far in the book, but I am not expecting a happy ending.