In this Year of the Rat, the great nation of China faces a new and unique moment. This startling era is filled with both opportunities and challenges.China is investing abroad as never before in pursuit of the Going Out policy.Climate change, terrorism and hot conflict loom large for our governments.The ambitious One Belt-One Road initiative extends Chinese investment into complex, diverse and developing regions, posing unique security challenges.Recently, COVID-19 has similarly tested our collective preparedness. As the Chinese proverb taught us, "A crisis is an opportunity, riding on a dangerous wind".
As an historic leader in the world, China has much wisdom to offer.Likewise,I believe the full strength of China is best harnessed through cooperation and exchange. In the spirit of this cooperation, I wish to humbly offer my suggestions and observations. I write not as an American, but as a decades-long security expert and traveler.
These travels have brought me not only to Beijing, the proud Tiananmen,the Great Wall, and many other locations around China, but to many climes and countries. Often, these places are considerably dangerous and strife-filled. Such places as Iraq, Afghanistan, Algeria, and Egypt demonstrate potential perils in the global business environment. If the proud goals of China are to be fulfilled, China must continue to protect the safety and well-being of its citizens. This challenge is expanded as China invests in places like Africa, placing personnel in new and turbulent environments. Think of the piracy around the Al-Mandab Strait; of the varied rebels of Burma/Myanmar. Think of the Malaysian kidnappings, the Philippines insurgency, the transnational drug trade the world over. Consider that terrorists of Central Asia, or the warring parties of the Maghreb.
As President Xi Jinping once told a journalist, "Happiness does not fall out of the blue and dreams will not come true by themselves. We need to be downto-earth and work hard". For my purposes, working hard means anticipating threats and rectifying weaknesses. In the pages of this book I will share with you the fruits of my experience, and the means to apply these lessons in practice.