A top Chinese tech executive was recently arrested at the request of the Trump administration. This is seen by many as an attempt to block China’s rise as the world superpower, by the United States. This is being done by imposing high tariffs on chinese goods, $250 billion last year. The arrest was countered by arresting a Canadian official in China this week, there have been two. This makes me wonder about the possible implications if the East Asian sphere of influence grows and encroaches on the Maritime Sphere. The last time that this sort of event occured it was tied to the rising the Soviet Union and communism throughout the world. One of the reasons this was crushed was because of The Soviet Union’s short history of being a powerful and prosperous nation. When The Cold War was over The United States emerged as the hegemon and enjoyed that distinction for 10 years. But now China is starting to more closely resemble the characteristics of a hegemon. The United States is very dependant upon China for cheap labor and production of the majority of our goods and services. In the event that the Trump administration decides to impose more tariffs and taxes as a response to slow the Chinese economy so that The United States can attempt to remain the biggest sphere of influence, this would have catastrophic effects on the US economy. The other alarming fact is the China is communist with a capitalist economy. In the event that the East Asian realm grows and has a bigger influence on the rest of Asia, The United States would be forced to respond as it did in The Cold War, and at this point there are more than one global superpower and it could involve many more countries that just China and The United States.
