Frederick W Stakelbeck Jr. has written for us on national security issues, particularly on China. He has a pair of recent articles well worth reading. The first, in the Asia Times, examines the serious need in China for a credit—reporting agency. The lack of such nuts and bolts features of a market economy could spell enormous trouble. The second article reveals a virtually unreported but highly significant rapid warming of relations between Mexico and China. Mexico, it seems, has given up on trying to compete head—on with China for manufactured exports to the American market. Instead, it wants to play a role as facilitator and gateway, invoking Singapore as a model. Rather inappropriately, in my view, since Singapore relies on efficiency, reliable courts, and the flexibility its small size offers. Stakelbeck notes: The realization that Mexico can not compete with China in the U.S. exports market, coupled with a desire to become part of China's global economic...(Read Full Post)