By Han Seung-hun
In 1978, Deng Xiaoping announced he would boost China's economy, predicting that GDP would quadruple in 20 years. Deng's prediction turned out to be false; China accomplished its goal in 17 years. Since then, the acceleration of China's economy has become unstoppable, maintaining a high growth rate and enhancing the standard of living.
However, one thing China has failed to improve ― in fact it is even deteriorating ― is its image. The country has been accused by Western nations of making fake goods and recently received a deluge of complaints about the safety of its exports. A recent blood shedding incident in Tibet also contributed to the aggravation of China's image. Exported food containing substantial amounts of lead resulted in increased alerts and distrust toward China.
The most serious problem caused by China's deteriorating reputation is that the world is beginning to see China as a ``threat.'' Rather than cooperating with China to create better results, companies that used to be trading partners are turning away and foreign countries are becoming fearful of its growing influence. Ever since China opened its economy, people have been worrying that its cheap labor price and flourishing economy would be a threat to their business activities. Especially, countries that are not ready to withstand the economic power that China exerts are worried about the potential critical impact on their economy from the flood of Chinese products.
Although China's responsible for its sinking image, we must not view China, the key source of development in the future, as a threat. We must try to approach from a different point of view or it will lead to unpleasant results as we can notice from the historical facts presented below.
When Rome was expanding through the Italian peninsula and the Mediterranean, it encountered a fierce competitor in the city of Carthage in North Africa. Carthage had gained wealth through the thriving trade in the Mediterranean Sea. Rome saw Carthage as an economic competitor and considered it a threat. On the other hand, when the United States declared independence from Britain, European countries actively engaged in trade with the US. They regarded the US as an opportunity.
These historical events show how two distinctive approaches based on different points of view toward similar situations changed history. Economic competition led to the Punic wars and after Rome conquered Carthage, the Roman Empire started to collapse. It led to growth in problems such as the unequal distribution of land and class tension. However, European counties that traded with the US gained great economic profit, leading to benefit for both sides.
As we can see, what China should aim for as its new image is ``opportunity.'' Our effort to accept China's new image is also needed. If we continuously see China as a ``threat,'' what lies in front of us is a thorny path and counter current that would only hinder us from further development. However, those who are able to see China as an opportunity and try to take advantage of it would be successful in obtaining what they want.
How China could change its impression depends on how it expresses and advertises itself. China must notify its competitors that it is not threatening them but providing an opportunity that could lead to benefit for both sides.
Han Seung-hun is a freshman of Daewon Foreign Language High School in Seoul.