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                          China's Rise Closely Watched

   by William Ide

   China's role as APEC host this week allowed a rare opportunity for
   Beijing to showcase its vision for the global economy and the region.
   But as China's stature grows, so have tensions with other countries,
   including the United States.
   APEC summit

   For China, the APEC meetings were a carefully choreographed display of
   power and confidence. To ensure the colorful show went as planned,
   Beijing took serious steps. Factories shut down to clear the skies and
   prominent Chinese activists Hu Jia, a critic of the government, says
   restrictions he faced under house arrest during APEC were worse than
   when he was in prison.

   "Xi Jinping has taken measures to safeguard stability in the hope that
   under the great temptation of its economy, no domestic and
   international activists will voice or mention the dark side of China's
   development," he states.

   Not all Chinese are as pessimistic about Beijing's rule. Indeed many
   people here see the concerns expressed by China's neighbors about its
   expansive territorial claims as an inevitable reaction to Beijing's
   rise.

   "As China rises that is perhaps putting more pressure on other
   countries and those countries may want to suppress China," said teacher
   Si Diman.

   "China is not pursuing military expansion but cooperation. Other
   countries shouldn't be so nervous," offered engineer Yao Jianpeng. "The
   world needs the support of several powerful economies and as one of
   those countries, China has a responsibility to do its part."

   Americans express concern
   In the U.S. capital, China's growing influence is on the minds of
   Americans as well. And for some, it's a source of concern.
   "In another 20 years they'll own us like Japan used to," said Virgil
   Campbell. "they're buying up everything we have in this country."

   "We are so dependent on them. So, I'm in banking and most of our
   companies are having to outsource for the, you know, the things that we
   buy so cheap,"  Erin Richardson said.

   "Given their monetary, political and military wealth I think it'll be a
   leader," opined Carl Krienen. "So, whether that's for good or not, I
   think that's to be determined."

   These are still early days for China as an emergent global power, Asia
   analyst Bonnie Glaser noted.  For its neighbors, Beijing's reputation
   will hinge more on its own actions than how the United States views it.

   "I would say that countries around China very much formulate their own
   judgments about China's intentions," she said, "and areas where they
   should cooperate with China and where they shouldn't."

   For now, China's neighbors are eager to sign new free trade deals. But
   they are also wary about China's expansive maritime territorial claims.

   And because of that Beijing's image as either a beneficent rising
   economic power or authoritarian threat still hangs in the balance.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/chinas-rise-closely-watched/2520182.h
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/chinas-rise-closely-watched/2520182.html