Reply #5: Right now, China still needs us more [View All]

We are still, by far, their largest trading partner. If the Chinese currency rises or the US has a depression/severe recession, they risk putting millions of Chinese out of work as US run factories in China relocate to India, Vietnam, Mexico, Brazil and elsewhere.

The Chinese banking system has bad debts reminiscent of the roaring 20s in the US...

Their healthcare system makes ours look like France - even if insured, people have to pay out of pocket up front for surgery and then hope to get payback through insurance.

They still rely on the central government to plan their economy much more than in our system.

However, in 5 or 10 years, China could feel it is worth the risk

That said, China will NOT do anything confrontational that would risk the Olympics in 2008, which will be China's coming out party to the world.