Griffin Johnston, 4th period, China's growing power a threat to the US?

            The U.S. has remained a leading world power throughout the 20^th and 21^st centuries and, despite struggles in the economy (among other things), it continues to establish its position as leading world power. However, all those who have power, fear of losing it, and this is especially evident in the U.S.’s increased focus on Asia and the South Pacific. In an article on Foxnews.com, Dominic Di-Natale reports on the U.S.’s recent drill in central Thailand that to “seize and secure an airfield at Lop Buri…amid a humanitarian disaster. The article states that the underlying motivation for this drill (occurring annually and named “Cobra Gold”) was to show the Chinese that the U.S. could quickly and efficiently come to the aid of their Asian allies surrounding China (similar to Teddy Roosevelt’s Big Stick Policy). This is due to the United States feeling threatened by the enlargement and strengthening of the Chinese military, especially of its development of “anti-ship ballistic missile” which can hit a U.S. aircraft carrier from 1,200 miles away in less than 12 minutes. China has also made claims towards Pacific land and airspace.

            Every nation has had its time of dominance, Great Britain around the time of the American Revolution, Spain at the prime of its Spanish Armanda during the first few years of the Age of Exploration, France during Napolean’s reign. It is not if the U.S. will lose their position as a world power, but when. Also, one could look at the presence in Asia not as a fear of losing power to China, but rather as an effort to quell the spread of a communistic nation such as China. The constant plight of nations in the world to gain more power or to mainain the power they already have begs the question why nations want more control and influence in the world. In the case of the United States, one might say that their motivation for mainting their power or gaining influence is quell the growing power of another nation that could cause harm and hardships to more people. However, one could say that other nations, in the case of China say, who have sought more power have the same noble intentions, but their plight to gain more power is seen as detrimental because of certain characteristics of their country (i.e. communism, corrupt leader/government, extremist religion, etc.). However, there are always those who simply have greed and all of their intentions are in the wrong place. Someday the world will become more understanding and respectful towards the practices of different nations and everybody will seek to make the world a better place.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/02/17/us-military-exercises-in-asia-meant-to-send-signal-to-china-say-experts/