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On Sunday, the curtain came down on the Summer Olympics with a spectacular closing ceremony that capped off one of the most memorable Olympiads in history. Every Olympics is important to the host nation, but in this case, they were not only important to the host nation, but were of extreme historical significance. Despite an ugly runup to the games, and continuing human rights problems with China's government, the premier story of the games was of Chinese power and competence. For the first time since the end of World War II, the duo dominance of the US and Russia at the top of the charts was shattered with China's runaway lead in gold medals, although the US maintained its lead with the most overall medals won at 110 compared to China's 100. As the Olympic flame died down, there was an imposing feeling that a great shift in the geopolitical balance of the world had occurred. China, for the first time in modern history, was able to create in the consciousness of millions around the world, an image of a new world. A world where China regained its central position as a pre-eminent superpower. We recieved a glimpse, but it was a glimpse of what's to come. After a long slumber, China has finally found the path to reach its great potential, which means that its ascent has only begun. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that the West seize the opportunity to engage China and adapt to its changing relationship to it. China today, however imperfect as it is, is a country experiencing rapid change and progress. Never before has a nation transformed its economic, social and cultural reality so rapidly in such short amount of time. When a nation of 1.3 billion thunders at this pace, the rest of the world is bound to tremble from the rumbling. However, China's current problems and struggles are not unexpected from a nation at its stage of development and size. The current group of developed nations from the United States to Germany had to overcome demons and skeletons before blooming into democracy. The sheer fact that the Chinese people are beginning to enjoy unprecedented prosperity and opportunity will ensure that China will begin to continue their reforms eventually creating a kinder, gentler system that respects human rights and individual choices. Those who doubt this should compare the China of 2008 to the China of 1978 when the nation began its policy of economic reform. Rare in history can we watch the exact moment when one great civilization stretches its hand towards the world. However, in Beijing, this is exactly what happened. Now, it is time for the West to respond. Should we continue our old attitudes and prejudices against China, with the typical grandstanding and condescension, we will only demonstrate that the West still does not "get it". However, if we do a little bit of introspection, we would realize that China today is not an unfamiliar place, China today is going down the same road that we ourselves have trodden along. In that spirit, the West, can reach across and complete the meeting of civilizations, becoming a source of constructive engagement instead of a source of antagonistic criticism for an enormous nation that is boldly flying towards the future. It has become a cliche to speak of China as the "next superpower". But from what we have witnessed in the two weeks, China may already be a superpower depending on how you characterize the term. Certainly, in terms of being able to mobilize mass resources and population, few nations can match China, possibly not even the United States. The message from the games is that this power is not limited simply to a ceremony or getting gold medals, but reflective of the nature of the Chinese nation. If that is the case, it is difficult to imagine a future where China does not stand tall amongst the family of nations.
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