This paper reviews Donald Gross's book The China Fallacy, which challenges prevailing American misconceptions about China across three domains: military capability, cyber security, and economic competition. Gross argues that protectionist attitudes in the United States are more likely to provoke conflict than prevent it, and that the two nations are deeply interdependent economically. The paper summarizes Gross's key fallacies — including the overestimation of China's military threat, the risks of cyber crime enabled by lax intellectual property laws, and the myth that Chinese economic growth comes at America's expense — while highlighting his policy recommendations for mutual cooperation and open relations.
The China Fallacy by Donald Gross offers an interesting perspective on the gap between American perception and economic reality. The book illustrates how, in many instances, a disconnect between assumption and fact has the potential to create unnecessary conflict between nations. Gross argues that the notions of security, economic turmoil, and political instability are routinely skewed within the general public. He also argues that it is in the best interest of the United States to allow China to prosper and flourish — a prosperity that will ultimately lead to an optimal relationship between the two countries, reducing many of the negative influences that plague them.
Gross provides solutions to address the concerns that society deems most important to U.S.-China relations while also offering means to expand the overall relationship in a sustainable manner. Through his work, Gross hopes to avoid another Cold War while contributing to a prosperous partnership between the United States and China.
The first fallacy Gross addresses in detail is the notion of a significant military threat posed by China to the United States. The media in particular has used sensationalism to overplay the threat of military action. Conflicts between China and Japan in the South China Sea only exacerbate this assumption. Due primarily to China's overall size and geographic location, many in the general public believe the nation can harness untapped military might. Gross, however, dispels this notion by providing actual figures on the military armaments of both nations, summarized below.
These numbers do not include the extensive quantities of drones, missiles, aircraft, and submarines that America possesses compared to China. Gross goes on to explain that much of America's fear pertains to hypothetical situations that may or may not occur. As the statistics indicate, these fears are unlikely to materialize in the near term. However, if American society continues to adopt a protectionist attitude toward China, Gross argues that this stance alone could exacerbate military conflict. China, recognizing that America anticipates confrontation, may respond by modernizing its military. This action-reaction dynamic would ultimately create greater unrest and animosity in U.S.-China relations.
Gross therefore argues that maintaining open relations with China will be more beneficial than the protectionist posture that has characterized American policy. Currently, China does not possess the military power to overtake the United States. However, if America persists in its mistrust, it could produce a self-fulfilling prophecy in which China accelerates modernization of its war capabilities.
"China's cybercrime capacity and lax IP laws"
"U.S.-China economic interdependence versus protectionism"
"CIA — The World Factbook." Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 16 Oct. 2010. <https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/>.
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