The Arrogance Of The Chinese

I’ve always enjoy reading what Lee Kuan Yew has to say and his views are widely respected by leaders around the world. This year he commented on The Rise of China and his prediction of what is to come. He reminded the Chinese not to repeat the mistakes of Germany, Japan and the former USSR where they had all been too carried away with their powers that they eventually collapse. He also doubted the Chinese sincerity when they assure the smaller countries in South East Asia that China does not wish to pursue any imperialist vision. This is because China will tell you that you have made 1.3 billion Chinese unhappy if you do certain things that would irritate their government. This sounds too familiar to me because we experience the same thing in Malaysia whenever the opposition demanded certain things that touch on the special rights of the Malay, the government would come out and say that you have made the Malays angry, they would go on the streets and we couldn’t control what they would do. These are all strategies of fear that are aimed at silencing the people.

Now back to China. The Middle Kingdom has showed mind boggling growth for decades and is now the second largest economy in the world. Lee Kuan Yew predicts that China will surpass the US in 40 to 50 years economically. The Chinese know that and that is why its people now have a sense of pride that they never possess before. But too much pride inevitably leads to arrogance and I have experience first hand myself. My first job in Australia was with a Chinese company. Their sense of arrogance are simply unbelievable. They think that they are superior in everything, so much so that they would want to bend any laws if they could. They are a developer and being Chinese they would want to maximize their profit by providing low quality products for their customers. Most of their products were imported from China of course. What is worse is that their Project Manager did not respect the other local professionals and would always override their decisions. I couldn’t bear working with arrogant people and I eventually left the company.

I’m actually saddened embarrassed by their behavior because I myself am a Chinese although I am not from China. And I feel what a shame that thing could be developed in another way around. With their rise in the global stage, they should be more humble in embracing other people and show greater leadership in improving the world. This opportunity does not come to just anyone and the Chinese should consider themselves lucky in this regard.

Before I migrated to Australia, a lot of people are advising me not to come here because they said that the Aussie are racists, that they do not like Asians and all that crap. These are the people who most of them have never even set foot in Australia and they are giving me advice on the country. Luckily I have studied here 13 years ago and I should know better. I never thought the Aussie are racists, in fact I’m more weary of Asians in Australia. Most of the time I don’t feel the courtesy upon entering any Asian grocery stores in Perth. Asians don’t treat other Asians well and in this regard I prefer services provided by the Australians. Most Australians are wonderful people who respect everyone regardless of their cultural background and I have so far never come across any unwelcoming attitude towards me.

My point is it is OK to celebrate your success in the case of the Chinese. But it is not right to be so arrogance that they don’t listen to others’ views in everything you do. China still has a long way to become a great nation and catch up with the US. I suggest they accept Mr. Lee Kuan Yew’s advice and do not repeat the mistakes of other superpowers before them.