HONG KONG -- For many years now, a debate has raged over the political and economic implications of a rising China, both for the region and for the world. That China is rising is not a matter of debate.
For many Chinese, their country's rise was something that was long overdue, since China is the world's oldest continuing civilization and, at one time, was acknowledged as the fount of science and civilization. However, for others, China's rise was something to be feared, especially if the country continues to be an authoritarian one-party state.
Many observers attribute to China's current leaders a "Middle Kingdom" mentality, seeing their country at the center of the world with its neighbors as little more than vassal states.