It is not China but possibly the US

Comments on John W.H. Denton “China need not be an emerging problem”, 28/12/2010, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/china-need-not-be-an-emerging-problem/story-e6frg6ux-1225976793355

While post is made from the businesses perspective, it has a strong strategic flavour.

Globalisation and economic integration and deep exchange of trade mean that historical examples of great power shifts may be just that, a history.

It is most likely that China's rise will be peaceful, even though there will be challenges in the processes.

The most serious challenge is how the existing power reacts to the power shift in the process and see its relative decline and the rise of another country that can become stronger and replace it as the most powerful.

The attempt of or the tendency of maintaining own power and creating difficulties for the new comer could be very dangerous and would be detrimental to everyone.

Australia is in a unique position in this power shift and its vital that it engages both constructively. It is in Australia's utmost interest to see a peaceful process.

On that note, the revelation of Rudd's ill considered discussion with US concerning China by Wikileak indicates the weakness side of Rudd's personality, and strategic and leadership skills that saw him lost of his prime ministership in the first term.

Australia needs to guard against that kind of amateurish.