I get the impression from this article that we're supposed to think of China as an opportunity to make lemonade from their lemons. We've been making lemonade this whole time and it's done nothing but harm to both countries.

This paints a picture of Deng as this great modernizer. Before Tiananmen Square they had a totalitarian government who to some extent provided food, housing, education, etc. to their subjects in exchange for a total illegitimate authority over their human rights. Then when it seemed the people might revolt or the international community could see an excuse to invade and colonize, they cut provisions to their subjects and said, "You're free because we're letting foreigners come and setup factories for you to work. Now pay for your own food and education and never mind all the property the party stole from you to fund killing your families.. and by the way we still have all the same authority over you." So some Chinese subjects thought they won a small battle because they were free to make a living, but now desperate to survive. It was no longer affordable for citizens to revolt against the oppression, and the international community had no more reason to pretend to be heroes because we could have all the benefits of a colonization without the initial military investment.

The idea that the international business community will demand more government transparency for citizen or worker rights is contradicted by all the examples of what is happening today. When the Chinese government violently forces people off their land so factories can be built or violently silences any demands for workers rights, it's at the benefit - and wouldn't doubt request - of the investing businesses. Those actions are directly resulting in higher profits, which is the #1 priority in business. It would not be in the best interest of any business to encourage any kind of worker, civil, or even human rights. To think they would do it out of the kindness of their hearts would be naive and ignoring history.

The comparison to the developing U.S. has one fatal flaw, the U.S. was not a totalitarian state which squashed all dissent. If every union leader and whistle blower disappeared into a re-education labor camp the U.S. standard of living never would have increased.

I agree that China matters, but not that we should stay course and encourage larger global partnerships. If we continue to grow our dependence on China our economy will continue to weaken, their people will stay oppressed, and their military will strengthen. What good will it do to be a allied with a country that feeds on it's own? Maybe we won't be swallowed up so quickly?

Maybe instead we stop feeding the beast so it stops growing, let them figure out their own social problems first.

Bottom line is we're supporting and profiting from an oppressive regime, how is that "good"?