Orville Schell ("Buying America, Chinese-style, is what's good for the gander," July 8, Page 9) suggests that China must be permitted to invest abroad freely. This suggestion is risky without knowing China's true intentions.
China has flooded the US with its products from A to Z. Many of these "Made in China" products are too cheap to believe. This is like opium to US consumers. The end result is that products that are "Made in the USA" have become a rare species. For fair trade to occur, China must raise the minimum wage for its workers and allow the yuan to float freely.
China wants the EU to lift its arms embargo so that it can buy advanced weapons freely. Is China afraid of another Tiananmen uprising or a possible military attack by Taiwan or Japan? What is China's intention in pointing 700 ballistic missiles at Taiwan and increasing military budgets every year?
Additionally, why does China prohibit Taiwan from joining world organizations, including the World Health Organization, even as an observer?
China has enjoyed too much freedom abroad, but restricts freedoms domestically. To become a great country, China must respect human rights, accept democracy and peace, and leave Taiwan alone.
China now wants to buy and sell the US. Nobody knows for sure China's intentions in buying US corporations. An apparent reason is that China is playing word games. The takeover of IBM's PC division will make the world believe that whatever China does is "PC" -- or politically correct. If China gains control of Unocal, the US will have no calories (U-no-cal) or energy. The takeover of Maytag will make you call "Mayday!" ("Tag" is German for day).
Charles Hong
Columbus, Ohio
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