Give China a chance now

3 July 2005

To the Atlantic Monthly:

Robert D Kaplan's piece 'How We Would Fight China' (June 2005) is nicely written and enlightening as to the character of the modern US military.

It rests, however, on the unspoken premise that it is desirable that we should prepare to fight China. (..."the re-emergence of NATO as an indispensable war-fighting instrument should be America's unswerving aim".)

Why? Most of this planet's inhabitants, including the United States' former well-wishers, believe that US military hegemony has well outlived its usefulness, and can only lead to further disasters at the behest of ill-informed or ill-intentioned presidents.

The US has had its shot at the moral leadership of the planet, but was overwhelmed by self-interest, and failed the test.

Maybe a rising and democratizing China will do a better job. I'm prepared to give it that chance. It could scarcely do worse than the United States, with its long history of coup-sponsorships and occupations.

So I don't see any need to build up military might to counter China - let alone prepare for a war with it.

John Macgregor

Chiang Mai

Thailand