Can China Lead?
First published as “China: A leader by its deeds” in The Straits Times on December 6, 2005. Based on a presentation to the 2005 Beijing Forum.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, China's then-paramount leader Deng Xiaoping said: “Some developing countries would like China to become the leader of the Third World. But we absolutely cannot do that — this is one of our basic state policies. We can't afford to do it and besides, we aren't strong enough.