Comments on: India or China--who will prevail?

China may have the edge right now, but CNET News.com's Charles Cooper says India could be this century's up and coming superpower.

[Im-Not-TED]

Why not both, and does it matter

The short story could read, no matter who wins, the USA loses. What if China and India decide the pie is big enough for two? Then the rest of the world can clamour as the remining crumbs fall from the table. So, does it really matter who wins? It will not be the USA.

[sprogg2001]

RE: Why not both, and does it matter

So does that mean it only matters if the usa wins?

No don't take that seriously its called "tounge in cheek" Its basic economics advanced economys consume resources/ basic commodities from resource rich emerging economys untill they get so broke that the devolve back into an emerging economy or Einstiens 3rd world war breaks out. My moneys on that outcome I got a plot of land with a little forest and nice quarry, I reckon I will corner the market on sticks and stones.

[Im-Not-TED]

Why not both, and does it matter

The short story could read, no matter who wins, the USA loses. What if China and India decide the pie is big enough for two? Then the rest of the world can clamour as the remining crumbs fall from the table. So, does it really matter who wins? It will not be the USA.

[sprogg2001]

RE: Why not both, and does it matter

So does that mean it only matters if the usa wins?

No don't take that seriously its called "tounge in cheek" Its basic economics advanced economys consume resources/ basic commodities from resource rich emerging economys untill they get so broke that the devolve back into an emerging economy or Einstiens 3rd world war breaks out. My moneys on that outcome I got a plot of land with a little forest and nice quarry, I reckon I will corner the market on sticks and stones.

[manodud]

Big problems to tackle...

It feels good to read the article but I feel there are two most important problems in addition to not investing enough in infrastructure projects - corruption, right from the grass root levels all the way up to the parliament and highest bureaucrats; and there still doesn't exist a comprehensive system of national identification although there have been efforts to do it. If China could do it, then why not India. Accountability is an absolute necessity in every public office.

[globalVariable]

Who knows ?

In India, its easy to discover corruption - it has a democratic society and a free press. Who knows how corrupt the Chinese Govt. is ? They are autocratic and there is no freedom of the press. I would say India is more accountable than China then.

[manodud]

Big problems to tackle...

It feels good to read the article but I feel there are two most important problems in addition to not investing enough in infrastructure projects - corruption, right from the grass root levels all the way up to the parliament and highest bureaucrats; and there still doesn't exist a comprehensive system of national identification although there have been efforts to do it. If China could do it, then why not India. Accountability is an absolute necessity in every public office.

[globalVariable]

Who knows ?

In India, its easy to discover corruption - it has a democratic society and a free press. Who knows how corrupt the Chinese Govt. is ? They are autocratic and there is no freedom of the press. I would say India is more accountable than China then.

[deshpak]

Opptimisim and Dreams Good - Actions Results Better

<"The average Indian can also dream about making her fortune--and then figure out how to apply those lessons to building a better society.

What could be more Indian? What could be more American?>

I hope she just doesn't dream. She and the millions like her should actually do something to better society. Only then will India prevail.

[deshpak]

Opptimisim and Dreams Good - Actions Results Better

<"The average Indian can also dream about making her fortune--and then figure out how to apply those lessons to building a better society.

What could be more Indian? What could be more American?>

I hope she just doesn't dream. She and the millions like her should actually do something to better society. Only then will India prevail.

[urbanvoyeur]

neither, but both will try

Lack of natural resources will consign both to 2nd or 3rd tier status.

Neither country can feed itself without massive imports. Neither has significant natural resources to sustain production within their economies. Both countries have chronic, severe and worsening water shortages.
Both countries are severally overpopulated with no relief in sight.

Currency re-valuation and rising energy cost will hobble China. Poverty, over-population and lack of water will keep India down for the foreseeable future.

Just ask Japan how it goes for you when you re great at manufacturing but have insufficient natural resources. 20 years of stagnation. And counting..

[pwoon]

China is self-sufficient

China can feed herself. Who produces the most wheat, rice, pork, etc? China. China has more oil than India. Heck they probably have more than the US. I say though that China is richer than the US. If America owes 7 trillion dollars and China only owes 300 billion, who's richer. Although you could probably say that America has a bigger credit card, and more power to forget about the debt.

[urbanvoyeur]

neither, but both will try

Lack of natural resources will consign both to 2nd or 3rd tier status.

Neither country can feed itself without massive imports. Neither has significant natural resources to sustain production within their economies. Both countries have chronic, severe and worsening water shortages.
Both countries are severally overpopulated with no relief in sight.

Currency re-valuation and rising energy cost will hobble China. Poverty, over-population and lack of water will keep India down for the foreseeable future.

Just ask Japan how it goes for you when you re great at manufacturing but have insufficient natural resources. 20 years of stagnation. And counting..

[pwoon]

China is self-sufficient

China can feed herself. Who produces the most wheat, rice, pork, etc? China. China has more oil than India. Heck they probably have more than the US. I say though that China is richer than the US. If America owes 7 trillion dollars and China only owes 300 billion, who's richer. Although you could probably say that America has a bigger credit card, and more power to forget about the debt.

[ironbyghte]

Give me a break

India will need to substantially raise the bar in terms of literacy, health care, and poverty before they will even come close to a superpower. IMO, just because the United States outsources a variety of manufacturing and service jobs to your country does not make you a superpower.

[ironbyghte]

Give me a break

India will need to substantially raise the bar in terms of literacy, health care, and poverty before they will even come close to a superpower. IMO, just because the United States outsources a variety of manufacturing and service jobs to your country does not make you a superpower.

[nreddyk]

Tackle poverty first, dream later !

India and China need to tackle poverty, only then a talk of aspiring for superpower status will make sense.

Roads, Airports, Hospitals, Energy, Corruption, Pollution.........the list goes on.

[catoprof]

The Poor Will Always Be With US.

A country doesn't get rich by concentrating on the poorest of the poor.

It gets rich by creating investment oportunities for the wealthy and skimming the cream off the top.

I has always worked that way, and nothing else has ever worked.

[pwoon]

America doesn't have poverty?

It's just not as visible. But events like Khatrina shows reality. America doesn't have corruption? Again, hidden under the covers. Free society? An illusion. Equal rights? not even close. Freedom of religion? Officially, but culturally, worse than China.

[nreddyk]

Tackle poverty first, dream later !

India and China need to tackle poverty, only then a talk of aspiring for superpower status will make sense.

Roads, Airports, Hospitals, Energy, Corruption, Pollution.........the list goes on.

[catoprof]

The Poor Will Always Be With US.

A country doesn't get rich by concentrating on the poorest of the poor.

It gets rich by creating investment oportunities for the wealthy and skimming the cream off the top.

I has always worked that way, and nothing else has ever worked.

[pwoon]

America doesn't have poverty?

It's just not as visible. But events like Khatrina shows reality. America doesn't have corruption? Again, hidden under the covers. Free society? An illusion. Equal rights? not even close. Freedom of religion? Officially, but culturally, worse than China.

[Dante_11]

Media bias and superficial view on comparison

China might not have a democratic government like india, but its goverment's policy regards to economic developments is much more efficient than india. When comes to education system, china has done a remarkable jobs in transforming its primary and secondary education which india lacks. I am serously doubt india's university system is much better than china. Building a great infrastructure like airports, railways, superhighway, and power plants is a prerequisite to substain economic development. China is far ahead in this comparison and continues to do so. I am not so sure india will able to find that kind of investment dollars to carry it out. Remember china has more than $1 trillion foreign reserve. Increasing population will only drain more resource instead of create a better life.

[catoprof]

India has an excellent educational system.

They inherited it when the British left. Not everyone has access to education, but those who do work it.

Further, while India is full of poor people it is also full of middle class people. India's middle class is larger then America's entire population.

[Dante_11]

Media bias and superficial view on comparison

China might not have a democratic government like india, but its goverment's policy regards to economic developments is much more efficient than india. When comes to education system, china has done a remarkable jobs in transforming its primary and secondary education which india lacks. I am serously doubt india's university system is much better than china. Building a great infrastructure like airports, railways, superhighway, and power plants is a prerequisite to substain economic development. China is far ahead in this comparison and continues to do so. I am not so sure india will able to find that kind of investment dollars to carry it out. Remember china has more than $1 trillion foreign reserve. Increasing population will only drain more resource instead of create a better life.

[catoprof]

India has an excellent educational system.

They inherited it when the British left. Not everyone has access to education, but those who do work it.

Further, while India is full of poor people it is also full of middle class people. India's middle class is larger then America's entire population.

[wangbang]

delusional

Charles, you've got that American delusion regarding democracy going big time. In the 1800's, when women couldn't vote and we enslaved a whole race of people--was America a democracy? Is India a democracy when they are still mired in a caste system and they burn women as a matter of honor? Or is it more important just to say, oh, they can vote. That really helped Iraq, didn't it? I'm scared of being blown up every day, but at least I got to vote.

[wangbang]

delusional

Charles, you've got that American delusion regarding democracy going big time. In the 1800's, when women couldn't vote and we enslaved a whole race of people--was America a democracy? Is India a democracy when they are still mired in a caste system and they burn women as a matter of honor? Or is it more important just to say, oh, they can vote. That really helped Iraq, didn't it? I'm scared of being blown up every day, but at least I got to vote.

[Dante_11]

Democracy in the view of an american's eye

Hi, it seems that the author suggests that democracy and rule of law will prevail the economic future is rather superficial and lack of deep judgement. Democracy is a dream but is not a reality for majority of the people living in a destitute, despair economic social environment, especially for the elderly, women and childern. Their pirority is the food on the table, basic education and clean water.

[Dante_11]

Democracy in the view of an american's eye

Hi, it seems that the author suggests that democracy and rule of law will prevail the economic future is rather superficial and lack of deep judgement. Democracy is a dream but is not a reality for majority of the people living in a destitute, despair economic social environment, especially for the elderly, women and childern. Their pirority is the food on the table, basic education and clean water.

[hackingbear]

India's too late

India has an edge in IT only because of the use of English as the national language, thanks to the Briton. However, for the same reason, India cannot take IT projects from Japan, Korea, Taiwan which are now all go to China. And China has developed a highly successful Internet economy.

Most importantly, China has seized the opportunity of being the world's manufacturer left open by Japan and Korea (due to the rising labor costs) in the 1980's. Today, it would be hard for India or other 3rd world country to take over it, not until Chinese labor wage go up significantly, but there are 1 billion laborers in China.

That also mean China's business model is more diversified and much larger than that of India.

When I was in China, I met many Indian people over there, all for procuring Chinese products.

[hackingbear]

India's too late

India has an edge in IT only because of the use of English as the national language, thanks to the Briton. However, for the same reason, India cannot take IT projects from Japan, Korea, Taiwan which are now all go to China. And China has developed a highly successful Internet economy.

Most importantly, China has seized the opportunity of being the world's manufacturer left open by Japan and Korea (due to the rising labor costs) in the 1980's. Today, it would be hard for India or other 3rd world country to take over it, not until Chinese labor wage go up significantly, but there are 1 billion laborers in China.

That also mean China's business model is more diversified and much larger than that of India.

When I was in China, I met many Indian people over there, all for procuring Chinese products.