From 50 Years Ago: The Emerging Triangle

The Emerging Triangle

If there was ever any doubt that China was well set on the path to emerge as the world’s Third Super Power, events of the last few months have set it at rest. The Cultural Revolution has come and gone without the disastrous consequences that many were fondly predicting. All the signs now point to a new and perhaps higher level of stability in that society. The launching of an earth satellite marked the climax of a series of remarkable successes in the fields of science and technology which together have ended the hopes that sheer paucity of resources will force China to be content wit h a low level nuclear capability. The diplomatic isolation of China is ending. Not only has Peking succeeded in recent months in becoming the leader of the Asian communist countries, it has also become an important factor in the policies of such European Communist countries as Yugoslavia and Rumania. Within the non-communist world more and more nations are showing their keen desire to establish economic and political links with China. Among the Great Powers also there is a fresh awareness of the importance of China, as evidenced by France’s renewed interest in that country.