China is second only to Canada as America's largest trade partner. Their economy is in rapid expansion and prosperity is beginning to touch the lives of many of the poor throughout the country.
Prosperity usually leads to democracy and increased protection of property rights. The Economist published a story Tuesday called As the economy booms, so does unrest, documenting the growing unrest over corruption and oppression. Widespread prosperity has always led to democracy and political freedom in modern times. As this tension mounts, what will China do?
We are fighting a war on terror and rightfully so. Yet I can't help but wonder if our attention is not being diverted from a bigger geo-political story. Should China make the transition to a democratic free market nation, it could bring in an era of unprecedented prosperity for the world. (1/4 of the world lives in China.) Should reactionaries force a retreat back into repressive totalitarianism, it could set the expansion of prosperity and freedom back for decades. It could even lead to a new cold war or, God forbid, armed confrontation with nuclear powers.
Such great opportunities are available for global prosperity now, but the stakes are higher than ever. Let us not forget China. For those who believe in the power prayer, let us not neglect prayer for the people of China and their leaders.
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