The Year that China arrives:WashPost,12/24 page A15

Fareed Zakaria,editor of Newsweek wrote: For Americans, 2008 is an important election year. But for much of the world, it is likely to be seen as the year that China moved to center stage, with the Olympics serving as the country's long-awaited coming-out party. Whether it's trade, global warming,Darfur or North Korea, China has become the new X factor, without which no durable solution is possible. Former Harvard University President,Economist Lawrence Summers pointed out that during the Industrial Revolution the average European's living standards rose about 50% over the course of his lifetime. In China, Summers calculates, the average person's living standards are set to rise 10,000% in one lifetime. China has expanded personal liberty in ways that would be recognizable to John Locke or Thomas Jefferson. People in China can work, travel, own property and increasingly worship as they please. In the "Foreign Affairs" journal, Princeton's John Ikenberry points out that the current world order is extremely conducive to China's peaceful rise. That order is integrated, rule-based with wise and deep foundations - and there are massive economic benefits for China. This will be the year of China. It should also be the year we craft a serious long-term China policy. My comment: In order to understand the real China,original source materials must be known for true understanding. "A Glimpse of the Chinese Language" in English and Confucianism: Political Philosophy of Mencius may be useful references for all who wish to know China in the 21st century. Such works may be searched at www.ask.com or search at Georgetown University Library online catalog. Francis Shieh(Georgetown University Graduate School Grad. Class of 1950) a.k.a. Xie Shihao. December 24, 2007 as referrals for intellectual gifts to all folks.