George Leopold's concern over China [Aug. 1, page 4] seems to be echoed in many venues. But a more sanguine approach may be in order. China, in its efforts to acquire strategic assets via purchase, is only doing what other prosperous powers do all the time. By playing according to the same rules through which the United States and others address their national interests, China seeks to advance its own. If China has ideas about becoming a global power by acquiring assets, it is behaving in a perfectly legal manner.

By speculating about China's military reform program, one must keep in mind that China's military budget is about $40 billion, whereas the U.S. defense budget is roughly $450 billion.

Indeed, China's rapidly expanding economy has a great need for energy sources. But while China's CNOOC bids on a purchase of Unocal, the U.S. sometimes takes a more direct approach: It invades Iraq and threatens to do likewise in Iran and Syria. In fact, all of Central Asia is dotted with U.S. military bases.

While China has not projected its military power into another country-with the exception of Korea, when China's own borders were threatened as the U.S. forces approached the Yalu River during the Korean War-the United States has invaded more countries than can be conveniently listed here and maintains some 750 major military bases around the world.

Which nation is perceived by the world as the greater threat to peace?

David Wald

Owner

Delta-T Co.

Santa Clara, Calif.

http://www.eet.com

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