The Chinese Threat to World Order

The threat from Communist China to world order in Southeast Asian countries in the form of military con quest is most unlikely. The Chinese ability with nuclear fission will probably require many more years before she can keep abreast with more senior members of the "nuclear club." The presence of a large number of ethnic Chinese, better known as "overseas Chinese," in most countries of Southeast Asia makes actual conquest by Communist China quite unnecessary. In a few countries, with the exception of Thailand, the question of assimilation and absorption of Chinese elements into the indigenous population is still in a state of attempt and adjustment. The fact that it was customary for the Chinese abroad to look up to the ruling group in any country and to look down upon the "foreigners" amongst whom they lived does not help countries that had been under foreign domination very much; yet these propensities made absorption and assimilation in Thailand a much easier task. Hence the success or failure of a Chinese attempt to intervene in any country really depends on how far assimilating effort and achievement have been reached.