So, it is about China. Back in 2005 when I was in a program named APLP and we had a 'lecture' somewhere in Washington DC as a part of the APLP program. I could not remember exactly the name of the building where the lecture was taken place but I still remember when the speaker made a prediction about China. He said that in the next 20 years, that will be in 2025, China will overtake US economy. I was not so convinced about the idea at that time despite the figures, facts and projection he made. Over the years, that notion is apparently to be right. One of stunning moments currently is the fact when Europe: particularly Italy and Greece, are on financial crisis and China was approached for a help but refused to bailout the countries. 

Another obvious fact is that US is heavily in debt and China is the biggest lender to the country. For sure, most of state governments have debt from foreign governments. I wonder if China does have foreign debt as well. I guess not but I suspect that China government might have domestic debt as well. Not sure. But, it's hard to deny that China has the money, become a new lender and for sure it maintains its steady economy growth.

And yet, Chinese students are sent overseas over the years and mostly, i guess, they pay themselves. As I mentioned previously here in Birmingham, international students might be predominant by Chinese students. I do not have exact figures though. But, again, particularly at Business School, once you enter the building and meet people, the scene is very much you are somewhere in China and not in England.

What's more, in terms of development discourse, particularly in Africa context, it is obvious that China's presence in the region sometimes becomes a hot issue. For some, they are welcomed and for other there is an opposition as well. 

Anyway, yesterday in Cambridge. I heard unintentionally a conversation between a lady, quite old and a young man, i guess this young man is her son. If I recall my memory right, the lady asked why there were a lot Chinese there. And the young man mentioned about the justification that the China's economy is getting better and it's not far back from their economy (Britain). Well, the point what I'm saying is there is an acknowledge that China's economy is quite good and the country is able to catch up with other developed countries.

So, generally speaking China is getting better off. Now, the question becomes more complicated when this issue is correlated with democracy as China is perceived as an undemocratic nation. For some, they would argue that China is not a democratic country, doesn't respect human rights, so on and so forth. As a communist country, China becomes simply a bad example when it comes to democracy and human right. For others, however, despite not being clearly defend China,  they might argue somewhere in between, while pointing out particular circumstances, they say that democracy is a process and not something imposed over. Yesterday, somehow, reading an article about Russia in an article of New Internationalist also suggests that the result of Perestroika leading the break-up of Soviet Union has not been satisfying. Not to mention back home, Indonesia, how we experience drawback of what we perceive as a democracy. I am not implying that detaining people due to his/her political opinions is a right thing or agree on whatsoever forms of human right oppression but the point I try to make is naively accepting or rejecting an idea or concept without seriously taking a look on its own complexity might not a good step to be made.

Drawing the line, somehow, I think the concept of democracy might need a new conceptualisation as the facts suggest that almost all democratic nations become bankrupt. Attached with it, free market: neolib and capitalism might need to be re-considered instead of taking them for granted. But, that's just my two-cents. Yes indeed, just my two-cents...