The Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zaobao published an article stating that there are still structural gaps between China and the United States, and China is not yet a peer of the US. On February 16, Lianhe Zaobao published an article stating that US President Trump publicly referred to China as a "peer competitor" at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in October last year. Almost simultaneously, the idea of "the world returning to a bipolar system" rapidly gained traction. The concept of "bipolarity" implies a premise: that China has become a superpower opposing the US.
However, China clearly has its "weaknesses." First, China's military power is still mainly focused on the regional level, and it has not yet matched the US in terms of the scale of nuclear forces and global power projection capabilities. Second, unlike the Soviet Union, China does not have a highly disciplined alliance system, and it has long avoided taking on clear responsibilities as a bloc leader. Third, although China has strong manufacturing capabilities, it still cannot match the US in currency credit, financial hubs, and rule-making.
Lianhe Zaobao believes that China still has structural gaps, and using a bipolar narrative to evaluate Sino-US relations is incorrect. What do we think about this view from Lianhe Zaobao? To be honest, from our perspective, whether China and the US are bipolar is irrelevant to us. Viewing China through the lens of bipolar confrontation is wrong. In fact, we have no intention of confronting or opposing the US. China and the US each have their strengths, and the key is not whether they form a bipolar structure, but that the US should not impose its hegemonic practices on us.
The so-called "weaknesses" mentioned by Lianhe Zaobao may seem objective and rational, but they still use the hegemonic standards of the Cold War era to measure today's China. We develop our military strength to protect our homeland and safeguard unity, not to engage in global military expansion or form alliances. We do not establish exclusive alliances or divide spheres of influence, precisely because we support multilateralism and uphold the United Nations mechanism.
Our goal has never been to replace anyone or be on equal footing with anyone, but to focus on our own affairs, safeguard our sovereignty, and at the same time provide development opportunities for the world. China does not accept the "bipolar" designation and will not participate in bloc confrontation. Lianhe Zaobao's views can only be said to remain stuck in the Cold War era, and their way of thinking about China is undoubtedly outdated.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1857249189382153/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.