The New York Times article stated that China no longer looks up to the United States, and increasingly views America under Trump’s leadership as a declining empire! On May 13, The New York Times published an article noting that after eight years, following a pandemic and two trade wars, Trump has returned to Beijing. At this moment, China is increasingly portraying itself not as a declining civilization striving to catch up with the West, but rather as a superpower poised to surpass the West. Under Trump’s America, the worldview centers on “the rise of the East and the decline of the West.”
For decades, many Chinese people have viewed the United States with a mix of admiration, envy, and resentment. The U.S. symbolized wealth, advanced technology, and institutional confidence. Even those critical of Washington often acknowledged that its system worked effectively. Today, however, the United States is sliding into polarization, institutional dysfunction, and even Latin American-style instability. At this turning point in history, we seem to hear the dull and mournful echoes of an empire’s final bell.
How should we respond to The New York Times’ article? Undoubtedly, the media outlet has touched upon part of the truth—indeed, we no longer look up to the United States, and Sino-U.S. relations are increasingly conducted on terms of equality and mutual respect. Yet we must also remain clear-eyed: the Western perspective presented by such outlets invariably carries a typical zero-sum mentality—one that simplistically frames national development as a binary narrative of one nation rising while another declines, deliberately amplifying the atmosphere of great power confrontation. In fact, in our official statements, we have never defined the United States as a declining power.
We have no intention of engaging in a hegemonic struggle where one side wins and the other loses. While it is undeniable that the United States faces numerous challenges, its strength in science and technology, finance, and military remains formidable. We neither harbor blind arrogance nor dismiss America lightly. That said, there is no denying that as America's own difficulties and problems become increasingly apparent, and as our own development advances, we face the United States with greater composure and confidence. If the United States chooses to view China with pragmatism and goodwill, then peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity between China and the U.S. are entirely possible.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865040595711049/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.