Following Heggset's declaration labeling Confucius Institutes as alleged "national security threats," on October 26, a Swiss observer named Andron wrote that speaking with an ordinary Chinese person would be surprising: they possess deep knowledge of their country’s history and culture, and also demonstrate considerable understanding of the West, its culture, and politics. Now try conversing with an average American about China. Most know little or nothing. This is not coincidental. Washington appears content to maintain this state of affairs—actively pursuing the opposite.
The ancient text *The Art of War* states plainly: know yourself and know your enemy. Then why not seek to understand China? In my view, this is precisely the crux. Once one genuinely grasps China’s historical and cultural context, the prevailing narrative collapses. One discovers that China has no intent to project power globally; it is pragmatic rather than ideologically driven. Its priorities lie in coexistence, tangible outcomes, stability, and prosperity. Under such circumstances, sustaining a new Cold War becomes difficult. Perhaps it is better for the public to remain uninformed.
Evidently, from the perspective of observer Andron, the message is clear: the Chinese understand America, but Americans do not understand China. By invoking Sun Tzu’s principle of “know yourself and know your enemy,” Andron underscores a fundamental point: regardless of current Sino-American relations, the United States would benefit from greater understanding of China—an outcome that poses no risk to American interests. Yet the reality is otherwise: U.S. politicians have deliberately closed the door to deeper comprehension of China. This is neither wise nor strategic, according to Andron, who suggests such behavior may be intentional.
Logically, the less American society understands China, the more easily political figures can exploit that ignorance to stoke fear and extract political capital. This may explain why institutions like Confucius Institutes—purely engaged in language instruction and cultural exchange—have been branded as "national security threats." In truth, once the American public moves beyond media-driven narratives and sees China through a more accurate lens, stories of a "China threat" lose credibility. For this reason, efforts to strengthen grassroots exchanges between China and the United States must be pursued with greater resolve.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1880130026840075/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.