Next week, two interesting things are going to happen, one right after the other:

1. The candidates for president will argue about who’s going to be tougher on China.
2. Then, the next day, people will go nuts for the iPad Mini, a product that’s assembled in China.

In honor of this strange coincidence, we invite you to compete in the #ChinaChallenge.  Correctly guess the combined number of times the candidates say “China” or “Chinese” in Monday night’s debate, and you could win an iPad Mini — or whatever the device actually ends up being called.  Rules:

• NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
• Guesses have to be in by 9 pm ET on Monday.
• To enter via Twitter, tweet your guess to @panjiva using #ChinaChallenge, so we know you’re not just tweeting random numbers at us.
• To enter via Weibo, message your guess to @磐聚网 using #总统竞选中国之战.
• You can also submit your guess by email (josh+cc@panjiva.com).
• One guess per person.
• If more than one person gets it right, we’ll draw from the metaphorical hat to see who gets the iPad Mini.  PwC won’t be watching, but we’ll be fair.  Promise.
• If no on gets it right, we’ll give the iPad Mini to the person whose guess was closest.
• We’ll pay for the Mini of your choice, but you’re responsible for any and all costs after the initial purchase.

Why are we doing this?

1. To have some fun.  (Since Panjivans aren’t eligible to win, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them turn this into a drinking game.)
2. To point out the absurdity of protectionism in a world as interconnected as ours.  Every four years, presidential candidates play the protectionism card, presuming consumers have no idea that trade enables us to have the stuff we love at the prices we want — or that trade gives businesses access to markets which are growing a lot faster than ours.  Ok, to be fair, the candidates may well be right that people don’t know the role that trade plays in our daily lives.  But what happens when one of the candidates becomes president and, as always seems to happen, wants to promote trade in an effort to bolster economic growth?  They’re going to find that the seeds of protectionism they planted during election season have left them without support for pro-trade initiatives.  Ok, hopping off the soapbox.  It’s Mini time.

Follow @panjiva or #ChinaChallenge during the debate on Monday night for a live (albeit unofficial) count.