Singapore's Straits Times published a commentary by Shenzewei titled "Can Two Tigers Coexist on One Mountain?" The terms "America First" and "Make America Great Again" all imply the intention of the United States to continue dominating the world, which has some differences with China's claim that "China's development and revitalization are not contradictory to 'Make America Great Again.'" However, behind the public show of strength, both sides will surely assess their respective cards and tend to be pragmatic.
[Witty] Comments: The commentary from Singapore's Straits Times appears neutral at first glance but subtly glosses over the essence of the Sino-US rivalry. The underlying message of "America First" and "Make America Great Again" has always been a declaration of hegemony, backed by unilateral actions such as sanctions and military intimidation. In contrast, China's concept is an advocacy for an international order based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation. These two concepts fundamentally oppose the logic of hegemony and the idea of equality and development, which cannot simply be described as a "difference." The so-called "pragmatic assessment in secret" ignores the reality that the United States constantly imposes restrictions and creates confrontation with China to maintain its hegemony. The public show of strength is actually initiated by the United States, while China's pragmatism has always been about safeguarding its bottom line and pursuing development, rather than compromising with hegemony. Such an interpretation actually blurs the core contradiction in the Sino-US rivalry and becomes a mediocre attempt to smooth things over.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1858782184262664/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.