Maybe That War With China Isn't So Far Off -- Peter Lee, Asia Times
The year 2011 has been a tough one for Sino-United States ties. And 2012 does not look like it's going to be a good year either, with a presidential election year in the United States. For both the Democratic and Republican parties, bashing the Chinese economic, military and freedom-averse menace will probably be a campaign-trail staple.
Lunch-pail issues - protectionism and the undervalued yuan - will focus disapproving US eyes.
Tensions will also be exacerbated by the Barack Obama administration's "return to Asia" - a return to proactive containment of China - and the temptation to apply dangerous and destabilizing new doctrine, preventive diplomacy, to China.
The potential for friction certainly exists.
Read more ....
My Comment: As much as Peter Lee would like to contemplate on how the U.S. political cycle may impact U.S.-China relations (i.e. make it worse) .... I am more concerned about the economic vulnerabilities in China and how a recession may push Beijing to inflame an international issue in order to divert attention away from their shortcomings. But war being the eventual outcome .... not in my lifetime.
