Ready to face the world?
Much of the world is alarmed at China's strength, with or without Deng. It should be more alarmed at its weaknesses, wites Dominic Ziegler
ONE of urban Asia's most peaceful spots is the Protestant Cemetery in Macau. There lies a Scottish ship's boy who died in the early years of the 19th century “from the effects of a fall into the hold,” according to his epitaph. “Deeply regreted [sic],” the captain added. Plenty of other foreigners lie buried there too: from Salem, Massachusetts, from Portsmouth in England and Gothenburg in Sweden. The place is a reminder, first, that China's relations with the rest of the world are more deeply rooted than the past few decades of Communist autarky might lead one to suppose. But in an oblique way it also illustrates China's perennial discomfort in joining a world order it has had no part in shaping: the boy died off Macau because foreigners were forbidden to sail up to Canton, in China proper.