Lords of the Rim

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This book presents an engaging narrative of Chinese history from 1100 B.C. to the present, viewed through the lens of its merchant class. It unfolds like an Arabian Nights tale filled with scandal, war, politics, and the pursuit of wealth, encapsulated in the old Chinese proverb, "To be rich is good." Additionally, it offers a keen analysis of the significant influence held by approximately 55 million Chinese merchants, many of whom live in self-imposed or government-ordered exile across Asia, as well as in the U.S. and Canada. As Western entrepreneurs vie for access to China's vast markets, this merchant group emerges as a formidable force, already dominating commerce throughout the Pacific Rim. They have been instrumental in financing China's current economic boom, positioning it as the world's third-largest market after the U.S. and Japan, and they hold substantial stakes in China's future direction post-Deng. The author also speculates on potential scenarios, including the possibility of southern regions, the origin of many overseas Chinese, becoming independent nations. This captivating mercantile history concludes with a forward-looking perspective, blending both apprehension and admiration for the early 21st century, when China is anticipated to become the world's largest market and its merchants, among the most powerful producers globally.