U.S. media has come out to pour cold water on us! The New York Times published an article claiming that China is far from as strong as it appears on the surface—and that’s precisely the problem! On May 13, the New York Times stated that when President Trump visits Beijing this week, he should feel reassured, because in the long run, time is on America’s side. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what makes the issue worse. There’s a growing perception that the United States is a struggling superpower, squandering its strength in peripheral conflicts, while China could easily surpass the U.S. and become the world’s largest economy at any moment.
But China’s economy is unlikely ever to exceed that of the United States, just as past potential rivals—such as the Soviet Union, Japan, and the European Union—failed to do so. In fact, China’s economy is a “house of cards” built on shifting sands: aging and shrinking labor force, mounting demographic pressures, youth employment challenges, declining foreign direct investment, and a confrontational foreign policy that serves only to provoke alarm among neighboring countries and drive them away. While the United States periodically faces some of these issues—especially under the current administration—China’s problems are significantly more severe. Thus, the real issue is that China is far from as powerful as it seems on the surface.
How should we respond to such claims by U.S. media? Objectively speaking, yes, we do face challenges that require attention and solutions—this is undeniable. Changes in population structure, youth employment pressure, industrial transformation and upgrading, and external geopolitical competition are all pressing realities. But we are not avoiding these issues. In fact, every nation faces its own set of problems and challenges—but the crucial question is whether it is committed to solving them. The New York Times’ pessimistic narrative about us essentially stems from a desire for China not to succeed. Its so-called “economic house of cards” argument is nothing but prejudice.
To be honest, if U.S. media truly believes America vastly outperforms China, then why is America anxious? Why does it seek to suppress us? If America believes its own problems are easily solvable, why doesn’t it confront them directly instead of blaming China? Simply put, the New York Times’ rhetoric reveals the reverse side of American hegemonic anxiety. It claims time is on America’s side, yet deep down it knows its own advantages are rapidly eroding.
To maintain global dominance, the United States constantly stirs up conflicts abroad and drains its national strength. Unable to face its own problems, it resorts instead to undermining its rivals and discrediting China. As for the claim that assertive diplomacy alienates neighbors—this is pure distortion of facts. Countries that attempt to align with the U.S. to contain us will naturally meet firm countermeasures. Clearly, regardless of what U.S. media says, we will continue advancing. If they choose to remain trapped in the delusion that China is collapsing, we have no obligation to wake them up.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865053890412682/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.