China: its own worst enemy - Janet Carmosky

Janet Carmosky

The Chinese hacking efforts of the New York Times, the Washington Post and many other media has proved to be a disservice to China's international reputation, writes China veteran Janet Carmosky in Forbes. "China has a way of being its own worst enemy"   

Janet Carmosky:

What holds China back from sustainable prosperity and stability is not a lack of resources. The country is rich in human, financial, and technological capital. 

Nor is it a lack of skill in dealing with enemies. On the contrary, the obsession with enemies of the state reveals the deeper obstacle to China’s continued evolution: truly abysmal comprehension of the necessity of goodwill, the value of friends. And in the matter of making friends, China has a way of being its own worst enemy... 

The only way to be free of enemies is to do nothing and be nobody. Not an option for China. Since enemies are a given, friends are a necessary counter balance. Especially when China is often – as in the Chinese Media Hacker Ninja incident – its own worst enemy. Get some help. Really.

More in Forbes. 

Janet Carmosky is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. Do you need her at your meeting or conference? Do get in touch or fill in our speakers' request form.     

In our China Weekly Hangout of October 11, 2012 Janet Carmosky discussed, together with political scientist Greg Anderson and Fons Tuinstra, president of the China Speakers Bureau the ability of China to innovate.    

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