China Rising

Saturday's New York Times front-page story by Jane Perlez, the first of a three-part series on China's rapidly increasing power and influence in the Asia-Pacific region as it begins to flex its economic, diplomatic, and cultural muscle, was superb.

But it was really, really long: I would guess perhaps, oh, 2,500-3,000 words, about 10-12 typed pages.

I read every one of them, and you can too, here, if you like.

But if you'd prefer the short version, click on the excellent graphic up top that accompanied the article.

It's got everything you need to know about the force reshaping the East.

The dark arrows represent the total value of China's imports and exports in 1990; the light arrows the same variables in 2003.

Prediction: the arrows for 2013 will cover all the white in the map.

I say again: learn Chinese.

1.3 billion people can't be wrong.