COMM 3010
September 8, 2003
On April 5, 1999, The New York Times printed an editorial by Paul Wellstone in which he reprimands the United States government for its changing relations with China. The author states his opposition to the inclusion of China into the WTO (World Trade Organization) because of its human rights violations, but he does not understand that for China to be able change its behavior the country itself must change.
China is a growing economy; in fact China has had an incredible amount of growth in its GDP (Gross Domestic Product) over the past two decades, but with the growing economy China’s economic structure is also change (Zumwalt, 2002). Out dated jobs are disappearing, adding to the size of the unemployed work force that seems to remain at a constant level due to the large amount of the population coming of age and entering the work force each year. China does not have the resources to keep up with the combination of a growing work force and the changing demand for workers. Its only hope of keeping pace is the investment from foreign entities, which are hesitant to enter into trade agreements with a country that has shown itself to be unstable in its regulations of businesses (Zumwalt, 2002). However, China’s induction into the WTO brings new regulations that will be a comfort to businesses and investors looking to capitalize on the buying potential of such a large population. The new investment will increase China’s demand for labor while also increasing the demand for skilled and educated labor, which will help replace the outdated jobs and give rise to a middle class to bridge the gap between the country’s haves and have-nots giving it greater stability.
The increase in investment and the deregulation of trade also brings with it an increase in the quality of life for the Chinese people. Before the entrance into the WTO most products sold in China were made within the country, but the deregulation of trade barriers will open doors for companies to enter into the Chinese market bringing with it a wave of new products (Landler, 2001). More products equate to a greater amount of competition within the market. Competition forces companies to offer quality products at a competitive price, which will benefit the Chinese consumer.
The change in regulations will also allow the Chinese people to reap the benefits of new technology. For instance, scientist Huang Danian has created a form of rice that can withstand the toxic chemical of insecticides (Kahn, 2002). The rice has passed government safety inspections, but because it has been created through the manipulation of genes; it has been banned from being sold to the public. The decrease in regulations may allow for Danian’s rice to be grown by more farmers and increase the country’s rice yield, which can only help to feed the country’s 1.3 billion people. The example of Mr. Danian shows the amount of potential that the expansion new technology has in China.
The metamorphosis from a third world economy requires an improvement in the infrastructure of the country in the traffic of goods and ideas, which will improve communication within the country and from country to country. The evidence of this can already be seen in the Chinese educational system. The Chinese business schools are adding material about responsible use of the environment to their curriculum (Bunch & Powers, 2003). Concern with the environment is normally look upon as a concern for the prosperous countries, however the businessmen and faculty have shown support for the inclusion of the material. The people of China are showing the need for responsibility in how they grow as a nation learning about sustainable resources and pollution. Western scholars, some of whom have even traveled to China to lecture and help with the fledgling study, are heavily influencing the curriculum (Bunch & Powers, 2003). The spirit of cooperation between China and the West will help keep China’s ridged educational system from becoming stagnant and outdated as the free flow of ideas continues. Because pollution is a global problem that does not stay within a country’s borders more environmental awareness will benefit not only the Chinese people but also the entire world.
While one can agree with Paul Wellstone that it is important to be aware of China’s human rights transgressions and let it be known that America is against such acts, the positives that can occur from our relationship with the country are a better way to bring about change. Through cooperation change can occur and those changes are in the best interests of not only Americans but also for the people of China as well.
Bibliography
Bunch, R., & Powers, R. (2003). The greening of China’s b-schools. BizEd, II(4), 34,
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Kahn, J. (2002,
October 22). The science and politics
of super rice. The New York
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Landler, M. (2001,
November 17). International Business;
new game, new rules. The New York
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Zumwalt, J. (2002, January 23). China and the WTO; It’s win-win for China and the rest
of the world, but the dilemma for Beijing will be how best to keep the dual momentum of economic growth and structural reform going. The Business Times Singapore, NP.