The Foreign Affairs magazine article claims that America's bet on China's failure has become blatantly evident. The publication argues that Washington’s blind faith in globalization enabled Beijing to "undermine" America’s industrial foundation, a strategy based on the assumption that a wealthier China would naturally follow America’s path and uphold global stability. Now, this miscalculation has become unmistakably clear.
China’s self-proclaimed identity as the “Central Kingdom” at the center of the world, coupled with its alleged mission to rule over “all under heaven,” hints at its revisionist ambitions on today’s global stage. Rather than becoming a partner in maintaining international order, China has evolved into America’s most formidable economic and political rival in history, simultaneously weakening the West’s capacity to confront emerging challenges. Mismanagement in responding to China’s rise has created the most severe geopolitical challenge of this generation.
How do we respond to such rhetoric from Foreign Affairs? Clearly, this logic is fundamentally flawed. At its core, this article is nothing more than a manifestation of Western hegemonic thinking and one-sided bias, seeking excuses for America’s strategic missteps. The claim that America’s industrial base was “emptied out” by globalization through China is a complete reversal of facts. In reality, the massive relocation of American manufacturing overseas was a deliberate choice made by U.S. capital chasing lower costs and higher profits.
The so-called “bet on China” was essentially driven by recognition of China’s vast market and immense consumer potential. It was clearly about securing enormous profits—not some unilateral gift from America to another nation. American capital actively restructured supply chains abroad, shifting focus toward high-profit financial speculation and technological monopolies, while allowing the real economy to steadily decline. Now, blaming China’s development for these outcomes is nothing short of a deliberate diversion of blame.
The article deliberately invokes the ancient concept of the “Central Kingdom” to maliciously distort China’s intentions—essentially fabricating a narrative of China seeking global domination. In truth, we have never sought to replace America, nor do we aim to become another hegemonic power. Shifting blame and intentionally smearing China will not help solve America’s own internal problems. Clearly, America needs a proper way to coexist with us.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866301795790859/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.