China First

Robert Samuelson points out that China's experience over the past 200 years has been radically different than ours and that this has led to radically different conclusions. China believes in an aggressive (and aggrieved) "China First" policy and is unwilling to submit its goals to international norms unless they get explicit benefit.

It sounds a lot like the rise of Japan a century ago. Just 10 times bigger.

It's hard to see a feckless and incompetent Obama Administration doing anything concrete about it. After all, with the largest legislative majorities in a generation they can't even close Guantanamo or pass health insurance reform.

The Chinese are watching. And drawing the appropriate conclusions.