US will self-defeat if it considers China an enemy
- By Zheng Yongnian
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, May 2, 2014
The U.S. strategic mistake on the China issue hails from its misunderstanding and misjudgment due to the deep-rooted American ideology. If it sees China as its enemy, the United States will head further and faster down the road towards decline.
|
|
|
The agitator [By Jiao Haiyang/China.org.cn] |
Ever since World War II, the United States has always been part of Asia and both its interest and impact have never left the region. In 2011, the United States proclaimed its high-profile return to the Asia-Pacific region. From an economic point of view, the 2011 move was inevitable. Asia has become the center of gravity of the global economy, something which cannot be changed any time soon. Meanwhile, with its economic and strategic interests expanding across the region, the United States seems more like an Asian country and will pay more attention to the area. Obviously, its "return to Asia" strategy is not quite so simple.
Strategically speaking, the "return to Asia" is clearly aimed at China. It is not the first time for the United States to do so after the Cold War. During George W. Bush's time as president, the United States considered China to be its "enemy" and tried to contain China's rise through its NATO-like Asian allies. However, its "return to Asia" attempt at that time was detained by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. China has since become one of the most important U.S. anti-terrorism partners instead of its "opponent." In the long term, the "return to Asia" strategy will prove a major mistake for the U.S. foreign strategic adjustment.
Currently, the real challenge for the United States does not come from China, but from its very own decline. Although globally the United States is still undoubtedly the most powerful country, its economic and political forces have shrunk. During the Cold War, the United States served as a policeman for half the world, but after the fall of the Soviet Union, it "declared" itself the one and only police force overseeing the entire planet. Maybe it had the confidence to "safeguard" half the world, but it surely cannot possess enough for the whole one.
If the United States once viewed China as one of its "enemies," the decline of American power is set to accelerate in future. This is not because China would trigger a war, or China would defeat the United States, but the United States would in fact defeat itself. The underlying reasons for this event are as follows:
Firstly, China holds a different strategic attitude from the United States in terms of international relations. China would not like to make anyone its enemy unless necessary; just like Chinese President Xi Jinping once said, "We will not stir up trouble, but we are also not afraid of it." The United States often put China as its strategic competitor, whereas China has often opted for a Zen-like Tai Chi-style response.
Had China been the Soviet Union, another Cold War would surely have been triggered between the two. When the United States strengthens its relationships with other Asian countries, China knows it makes for the strategic target. If China also were to implement an aligned policy, the Asia-Pacific region could not be as peaceful as it appears right now.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)