The Elephant and Dragon move ahead

WE love imagery - for instance, there are lions and kiwi competing in rugby and bulls and bears playing the stock markets. Here I am referring to India and China, and I will contrast and compare to argue that there is no real fear of them becoming entangled or enraged.

They are the most populous nations of the world holding 1.36 billion people (China) and 1.25 billion (India), contributing to Asia's mass of 4.3 billion - well above Africa with 1.1 billion and dwarfing Europe at 742 million. Yet Europe, and the US at 565 million, frequently shout loudly.

Currently the US has the highest GDP at US$17.4 trillion with the euro area at US$13.4 trillion (the EU is higher at US$18.5 trillion as counted before the present Greek financial crisis), China is next at US$10.4 trillion with India trailing at US$2.1 trillion though not at the bottom of the table. Europe ruled the globe for a long time, then the US became more forceful in the recent technological age, but now Asia (and in particular China) begins to dominate. It is in this new race that India wishes to participate.