[duey]

China is a super power. I don't believe poor living standards preclude it from being so. The Chinese exert huge influence over the Asia region. It's why your starting to see USA place a lot of emphasis on a military presence in the Asia region.

The interesting thing is a lot of the countries in the Asia/Pac region primarily trade with China, even US allies (e.g. Australia). If the US starts to get agressive (in the cold-war sense) within the region, at what point does economics trump allies?

[bootload]

"... The interesting thing is a lot of the countries in the Asia/Pac region primarily trade with China, even US allies (e.g. Australia). ..."

Why is this surprising?

[taligent]

I wouldn't say China exerts huge influence over the Asian region.

The countries are fearful of China but they don't respect, admire or mimic it like they do with Japan or the USA.