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In the Jaws of the Dragon
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mirgcire -

Has anyone read this book by Eamonn Fingleton? 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 that I am picking up is 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 assertion: "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."

What makes me skeptical is that, while making his points, he attempts to undermine the credibility
of anyone who has anything to do with China. According to him, Beijing controls our sources of
information (scholars, journalists, authors, etc) about china through a combination of carrots and
sticks . For example he discusses china scholars as a group saying "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, "Any aspect of Chinese reality
that jars with the media's globalist background music tends to be downplayed or misrepresented."
Very few of his claims are substantiated and rarely cites other sources.

In terms of content, I find one of his claims particularly unsettling: 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 East Asian politicians and business people always tell the truth. Rather,
I assume all politicians and business people will say whatever they think will bring them the most
power or money. And I expect any competent negotiator to have the same assumptions.

If the author is credible, I find the book disturbing because is seems to ring true on a number of
points and 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 any plot
twists.

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