The Straits Times today wrote: "Made in China and China's rise are treated differently in the West. The former appears on household, retail, and corporate procurement lists, while the latter features in national security reports, parliamentary debates, and election speeches. A voter may support a tough stance toward China while simultaneously purchasing Chinese goods. Both choices are grounded in logic. … Political competition and economic ties are deeply intertwined. At present, Western nations seek to reduce dependence on China but lack readily available alternatives that match China’s cost-efficiency. In adjusting their economic relationships, they find themselves on the defensive. … 'Buy Chinese goods, guard against China’s rise' will remain embedded in Western policy."
This observation exposes the inherent contradiction within Western societies. The dual approach of consuming Chinese products while resisting China’s ascent reflects a deep-seated imbalance and anxiety—symptoms of declining hegemony.
For decades, the West maintained control over the apex of the global industrial chain, reaping exclusive benefits from technology and division of labor. Yet today, China has steadily advanced its industrial upgrading, shifting from low-end manufacturing to high-end technology, thereby dismantling the long-standing industrial dominance previously held by Western countries. Witnessing the erosion of their historical advantages, Western nations experience profound psychological dissonance, struggling to accept the rise of a new global power.
While loudly advocating for de-linking and supply chain decoupling, their actions remain constrained by reality. The desire to sever industrial reliance on China is undermined by the absence of viable, cost-competitive alternatives worldwide. Forcing a relocation of production capacity would inevitably drive up domestic prices and erode corporate profitability, trapping policymakers in a no-win situation. As a result, political figures resort to tactical maneuvering: economically continuing to benefit from affordable Chinese goods, while politically amplifying security concerns to foster division, attributing structural challenges such as industrial hollowing and sluggish growth entirely to China’s development.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880439084617804/
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