“If the Americans draw their missiles and position-guided ammunition onto the target zone on China’s territory, I think we will have to respond with nuclear weapons. … If the Americans are determined to interfere, we will be determined to respond. … We Chinese will prepare ourselves for the destruction of all of the cities east of Xian. Of course, the Americans will have to be prepared that hundreds of cities will be destroyed by the Chinese.”
This statement was made a few months ago to members of the press by General Zhu Chenghu of the People’s Liberation Army, also a professor at China’s National Defense University, concerning U.S. opposition to China’s threats to invade Taiwan.
Napoleon once warned about China, “Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will shake the world.” China’s economy, growing at a rate of 9 percent a year, is expected to replace that of the U.S. as the largest economy in the world within two decades. Rapid military modernization across the board and an estimated conventional force exceeding 2.5 million professional soldiers and 1.2 million reservists positions China to overtake the U.S. as the dominant superpower within 50 years, if not sooner. This giant is not only awake, it’s hungry.
Some claim that China’s military, though huge, is not modern enough to pose a challenge to the U.S. In actuality, experts estimate that China has at its disposal more than 10,000 tanks, more than 2,000 light tanks, 4,350 military aircrafts, more than 20 destroyers, 37 frigates, and 400 nuclear warheads. In addition to this, China has plans to purchase aircraft carriers and is developing nuclear submarines. China may not match the U.S. in military hardware or technology but the nation would certainly pose a formidable challenge in a military conflict.
If our current military can’t stabilize a region as small as Iraq, how could we hope to fulfill our promises to established democracies like Taiwan, Japan or South Korea if China became determined to move its borders outward? Even worse, what if China and North Korea (with it’s 1 million man army) formed an alliance? The balance of power in our world may be shifting in the coming decades. One thing is for sure, we are not alone at the top of the food chain anymore.
When the Soviet Union collapsed, Americans breathed a sigh of relief. No longer were we being threatened with nuclear war. The potential for World War III had been averted. Our rival in countless skirmishes across the globe had been defeated. The Cold War was over. America was alone at the top. Since that time, what has happened to bring us once again into a position of potential rivalry with a communist nation?
If you want to know how China paid for those 10,000 tanks then just start walking around your house looking at the labels on your clothes, toys and dishes. Then walk outside and take a look under the hood of your car. Many times, you’ll find that the labels say, “Made in China.”
During the presidency of the man most often credited with ending the Cold War, Ronald Reagan, China was made eligible for special trade status. This allowed China to flood American markets with cheap products while keeping their markets restricted. Countless American jobs were lost in the process.
Then came NAFTA and CAFTA. Then the U.S. opened up free trade with Indonesia, India and countries across the globe. This policy is currently called “globalization” and is based on the concept that free trade sparks economic growth in underdeveloped countries, creating a larger market abroad for American goods.
It doesn’t seem to be working out that way. It might have worked out well for us if we limited free trade status to one or two nations but we’ve allowed an endless stream of cheap labor from a number of countries to drive our own labor force out of business. American workers, the consumer base that drives the American economy, have seen their wages drop and their pensions fly away. No growth in a foreign market can make up for losing your consumer base at home. As our wages decrease, our retail sales go down. As our retail sales go down, our manufacturers go out of business.
The foreign markets we are developing are not creating enough business for American companies to make up for the business we are losing. The economy is crumbling.
Big business took advantage of the free trade agreements to exploit foreign labor and, in doing so, exploited American labor right along with them. Countries like China took advantage of free trade agreements, spurring their own economies at our expense. We’ve created our own rivals for the 21st century by our own poor economic policies.
To continue down this road would be irresponsible. I’d like to, once again, urge our leaders to abandon free trade for fair trade. Support the American working man. Demand a fair playing field with salary and benefit regulations that gives our workers a chance to compete with the slave labor offered abroad. Share our wealth with other nations from a position of excess rather than taking food from the mouths of our families to give to families abroad.
Pete Chalos, a longtime teacher, coach and public servant, was mayor of Terre Haute for 16 years. Send
e-mail to pchalos@netscape.com.
Pete Chalos
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March 1, 2006
Pete Chalos: China poised to become next big economic, military power
- Pete Chalos
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- Pete Chalos: Fluoridation removal should be on local agenda Last year, 11 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employee unions, representing over 7,000 environmental and public health professionals, called for a moratorium on drinking water fluoridation programs across the country. I wrote a two-part commentary exploring the evidence that inspired the letter these professionals sent to the U.S. Congress.
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Pete Chalos: Traditional family unit has served America well
Much has been said concerning the institution of marriage this past few years. Elements of our society have been trying their best to redefine marriage. Every American tradition associated with raising a family has been questioned by some group or another. Some feel the rules concerning marriage and family have changed because our society has taken progressive leaps beyond any society the world has ever known. Others feel we are losing touch with the time-tested wisdom of our fathers and the tradition this great nation was founded upon.
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Pete Chalos: Never too soon to pay attention to 2008 election
The next presidential election is already a hot topic of discussion in the press and we aren’t even close to the election year yet. Everyone is interested in finding out which candidate will have an edge come 2008.
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Pete Chalos: Community needs leadership from best and brightest
What does it take to win an election? Last week, we saw the climax of months of hard work and well-organized campaigning. Some candidates had been preparing to run for several months or even a few years. Spouses, children, family, friends and colleagues had been organizing, recruiting and promoting before most voters were even aware an election was coming up. It takes a lot of time and effort and a great deal of commitment to win an election.
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Pete Chalos: A community must invest in itself to improve itself
This month, the Terre Haute City Council voted in favor of the proposed tax increment finance (TIF) district on Indiana 46, passing it 6-3. Council members Jim Chalos, Rich Dunkin, Chuck Miles, Todd Nation, Shelva Warner and Cliff Lambert voted for the resolution.
This evening, the Vigo County Redevelopment Commission is going to conduct a public hearing concerning the details of the resolution, outlining the specifics. Upon their confirmation, the resolution will go back to the Terre Haute City Council for adoption on May 11. -
Pete Chalos: In Iraq, we must get job done, then get out
You can call it what you want to call it but what is happening right now in the country of Iraq is a civil war. Fancy words like “insurgency” aren’t fooling anyone. You’ve got two sides fighting over the fate of a country. That is a civil war.
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Pete Chalos: America must maintain high standards of immigration
My father John Chalos arrived from Greece at Ellis Island in 1910 for the purpose of working in Seattle. He ended up losing his ticket while the train was stopped in Terre Haute.
- Pete Chalos: Your vote counts in numerous and hidden ways
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Pete Chalos: State has moved too quickly on Major Moves initiative
The reason the government builds fire stations, roads, sidewalks and parks is to accommodate the general public. No single private citizen can afford to build all of these facilities on his own so we all chip in and pay taxes. As a result, we all end up benefiting from the use of the facilities. Government facilities are built for the public and they belong to the public. That’s the basic premise of a tax-supported Democratic society. Government by the people and for the people.
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Pete Chalos: City’s leaders, citizens must be willing to support progress
We live in an extremely competitive society. From early childhood, we are taught the difference between winning and losing. In some families, more time is spent learning the difference between winning and losing than the difference between right and wrong.
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Pete Chalos: The future of elderly care in America
This past month, my family and I have been reviewing all available options for the future care of me and my wife Ulla. At 78 years old, I am finding that I can no longer take care of myself and my wife the way I once could. In truth, it’s been quite a while since I’ve been able to do so on my own, but learning to accept and admit it has been a difficult process.
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Pete Chalos: China poised to become next big economic, military power
“If the Americans draw their missiles and position-guided ammunition onto the target zone on China’s territory, I think we will have to respond with nuclear weapons. … If the Americans are determined to interfere, we will be determined to respond. … We Chinese will prepare ourselves for the destruction of all of the cities east of Xian. Of course, the Americans will have to be prepared that hundreds of cities will be destroyed by the Chinese.”
This statement was made a few months ago to members of the press by General Zhu Chenghu of the People’s Liberation Army, also a professor at China’s National Defense University, concerning U.S. opposition to China’s threats to invade Taiwan. -
Pete Chalos: Women’s basketball flourishing in the Valley
This month, the ISU women’s basketball team recorded its 18th straight win. The victory also marked the milestone 100th career win for ISU women’s head coach Jim Wiedie. He and Edith Godleski are the only two women’s basketball coaches to achieve that mark in ISU history. Local golf enthusiasts may remember Edith from her impressive record in local golf tournaments.
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Pete Chalos: Lack of opportunity raises concerns for future
Over the years, I have been invited to speak to numerous service groups, church groups and political organizations within the community of Terre Haute. After sharing a few of my own thoughts and ideas, I always take the opportunity to answer questions from the crowd. I look forward to these question and answer sessions. In fact, it’s my favorite part of the meeting.
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Pete Chalos: Diligent oversight of utilities an important mission
At the end of January, ExxonMobil Corp. revealed record-breaking profits, the highest quarterly profits ever reported by a public company in the history of America. Exxon’s annual profit was $36.13 billion. That’s a 42 percent rise since last year.
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Pete Chalos: Major Moves plan could be major disaster for Indiana
The governor is at it again. First, he closed down license branches in rural areas, forcing many Indiana citizens to take a day off from work and drive long distances in order to get anything done concerning their license or picture identification (which he made a requirement for voter registration). Then he established an Inspector General to act as his own personal prosecutor (along with a staff of lawyers in every Indiana county). Then he crammed his plan for daylight-saving time down our throats.
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Pete Chalos: Use baseball classic to unite us, not further divide us
No sound is more exciting than the crack of a baseball bat hitting the ball. It’s quite an experience to watch your favorite team score that winning run in the bottom of the ninth or pull off a double-play to ensure their victory. The crowd roars and stands to its feet.
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Pete Chalos: This nation needs purpose, trusted leaders to show the way
Just like individuals, nations need goals. In the 29th chapter of the book of Proverbs it is written, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” In the absence of a unified sense of purpose, progress is replaced with unrest. Like any nation, America needs a national vision, a national direction and national goals.
- Don’t get duped, be skeptical and ask smart questions
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