What happens when China becomes No. 1?

http://www.straitstimes.com/news/opinion/more-opinion-stories/story/what-happens-when-china-becomes-no-1-20150424 

By Kishore Mahbubani

The Straits Times

Section: Opinion

24 April 2015

 

What happens when China becomes No. 1?

The answer may well depend on how America acts now, when it is still the world's sole superpower.

Let me begin with three incontrovertible facts. First, China will become the No. 1 economic power in the world.

Second, most Americans, like most Westerners, view China's rise with great foreboding.

Third, the role that China will play as the No. 1 economic power has not been cast in stone.

How the world, especially America, reacts to China's rise will help to influence China's behaviour in the future.

If we make the right decisions now, China could well emerge as a benign great power (even though most Americans find this virtually inconceivable).http://www.straitstimes.com/news/opinion/more-opinion-stories/story/what-happens-when-china-becomes-no-1-20150424