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“The
Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word 'crisis.' One brush stroke
stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the
danger--but recognize the opportunity.”
The
Chinese may not be the world superpower but they have made themselves a global
brand that one can’t dispute. The biggest factory in the world is currently
found in china. They supply the world with virtually everything. Made in China
is now synonymous phrase. We have sanctioned Chinese products and they are now
part of our lifestyle.
A
certain American woman once decided to carry out an experiment. She was the
specimen. The conditions she subjected herself stipulated that she was not to
use any Chinese products. The control experiment was to use the Chinese
products. She had been fed up with the fact that in her daily itinerary,
Chinese products had to be part of that lifestyle.
She
never lasted long enough in the experiment. She resorted back to the Chinese
products. This attests to the fact that not even the Super-power nation can do
without China.
Actually,
the Chinese can be said to run the material world. America still leads when it
comes to matters warfare, entertainment, fashion and other spheres due to the
financial muscles they have. But
at some point they were bailed out by the Chinese.
While
it may look like China is in the front wing in terms of having products that
are used by everyone. America has Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft, Apple and a
host of other brands like Coca Cola, Pepsi that we use in our day today lives.
Moreover, they have Google, a tech-savvy company that came up with Android,
Google search engine, Blogger, YouTube and a host of other products that shape
the way we live. These are just to mention but a few of what we use produced by
America.
If
someone knows how to exploit your weakness to aid him in doing what he wants,
then that person has won you over. Americans know how to exploit ignorance and
their narky flair leads the world to a desired conclusion in their favour.
Mastery of Aristotle’s three methods of appeal: pathos, logos, and ethos has
greatly helped the superpower. Through social media, the people the world over
expose their ignorance and weakness much to the delight of the Super power.
China
on the other hand supplies us with products we use daily. They are the
legendary potters or hardware designers who supply the world with all sorts of
products. After construction and sale, their influence comes to an end. While
many may be of the opinion that China has spread its tentacles widely, America
has more clout. The Chinese are like the spanner boys, they implement the
designs and ideas of other people.
That
the Chinese are clever is not in doubt. The only drawback is they are devoid of
ideas that have changed the realm of technology, medicine or fields that have
had influence in the world in the recent past. The Chinese are innovators. They
are extremely good to the point where they have come up with some high end
products that fascinate the world. They are however conservative and
dictatorial when it comes to matters of governance and running of the state.
Our
country Kenya is currently over fascinated by the Chinese. They have made us
think East. They deliver. They are currently all over. Some are even roasting
maize by the road side while others have been peddling third-rate items to
gullible buyers. The Kenyan skyline is facing China. Architects and Engineers
design and come up with ideas; they construct and implement the ideas. They bid
on everything that is worth billions and millions. They supply us with products
that fit our prescription and billing.
Chinese
are witty people; they know where the world is headed. In this regard, they
transform with the changes rapidly like a tardigrade does to a new environment.
They want to shift from a third world country to a developed nation. But in
their quest, they have forgotten the politics of going green. Theirs is a
pursuit that can’t be reigned upon. If you cough a bit, they have the financial
muscles and that they supply the world with cheap products acts in their
favour.
There
financial muscles have seen many of their companies join the list of Fortune 500 most
profitable companies. The Chinese are not only engaging in making cheap stuff
for the world anymore. They are restructuring to and have delved in oil,
technology- HTC, Lenovo, Huawei-, partially in entertainment due to their
karate movies and a host of other manufacturing industries that have global
hegemony.
China
has also been criticized for unfair trade practices, including artificial
currency devaluation, intellectual
property theft, protectionism,
and local favoritism. These shortfalls notwithstanding, the Chinese have had
average growth rates of 10% for the past 30 years. This means China is the only
nation that has had a positive growth rate in the recent period more than any
other country in the world.
I
love the Chinese for one thing. They have products for all and sundry. If you
want a tablet and can’t procure the expensive ones, there are affordable
tablets the Chinese make for those who desire to own one.
But
kudos to the Chinese, Apple tabs and computers are cheap (they provide cheap
labor) otherwise the products would have had unprecedented prices. Every other
company is facing China. They are efficient and effective in terms of delivery
plus they have the requisite skills for their population is a fifth that of the
world. Thanks to their policies, they have been cohesive and industrious and
have propelled their economy from the annals of having a frail and
malfunctioning economy and currently they are a juggernaut and an economic
giant the world has to reckon with.
Amid
the glory, China still ranks low in facets to do with human development.
Poverty is still rife and inequalities are evident plus they have a government
that muzzles the media and curtails global giants like Google from operating in
the county. Sad but we have to condone.
SITUONANE.
[Photo Source: Google Images]
