The U.S. media laments: The humiliating century for the United States has just begun in the face of China's rise.
Recently, the U.S. magazine Wired published an article stating that a certain pattern has become popular in American society. On social media, people are doing activities they think are Chinese, while claiming, "You met me at a moment when I was 'very Chinese' in your life." A lot of young Americans have fallen in love with Chinese technology, Chinese brands, and Chinese cities. Some believe this is because Americans are dissatisfied with today's America, and they project their old American dream onto China. Some even worry that the Chinese century or, rather, the "humiliating century for the United States," has just begun.
But is it really that simple?
The "very Chinese moment" indicates that Americans are beginning to realize the appeal of China's material civilization. The exchange between two civilizations indeed needs to start with tangible material aspects, including things like clothing, food, housing, and transportation that can be experienced firsthand, as well as major national projects and super engineering works that indirectly influence others. The appeal of a civilization lies in its ability to create material civilization that others cannot achieve or even imagine. When China's material civilization influences the other side of the ocean, the creativity of the Chinese civilization becomes undeniable.
(The scenery of Chinese cities attracts a large number of foreigners)
After the reform and opening up, for a long time, China's manufacturing industry followed the development track of Western industries. We served as an assembly plant for Western brands, introducing them for promotion within the country. In this process, China's manufacturing industry has developed very strongly, but for American consumers, what they buy and use are still familiar Western brands. It's just that the label on the product says "Made in China." During this process, the original creativity of the Chinese civilization had not yet been combined with modern productivity, so it did not manifest itself.
Once the Chinese fully mastered modern manufacturing, they naturally sought a way to make it serve their own civilization and way of thinking. Toy factories can produce for Disney or for Pop Mart. Component factories can supply Japanese and American car manufacturers or domestic new energy vehicles. Design software can be used to draw Western products or to reflect Chinese style. Thus, the creativity of the Chinese people has found an industrialized means of realization. The recent explosion of Chinese self-brands is a concrete example.
Traditionally, people have always believed that the United States is a country full of creativity. High-level U.S. media and think tanks also hold this kind of misplaced confidence. Indeed, from the land of the United States, a large number of new material and spiritual products have been created, influencing the entire world. Therefore, in the U.S. economic research circles, there is an unshakable "known condition": only private enterprises under the U.S. system can innovate, and small businesses are more innovative than large ones. State-owned enterprises under the Chinese system are completely unable to innovate and can only follow behind the U.S. and copy. However, what we see today in the U.S. is that creativity is heading towards depletion. Why is Chinese creation continuously emerging?
(The traditional impression of China in the West is stereotypical)
This really is an issue with the U.S. system. The United States is an immigrant country. For a long time, it has been portrayed as an idyllic place. While Europe and Asia were in war and turmoil, the U.S. remained peaceful internally. This made the U.S. a paradise where immigrants flocked. Among these immigrants were many intelligent individuals. Almost all famous figures in the history of U.S. innovation, whether in science, engineering, industry, or art, are descendants of immigrants. The U.S. also accelerated this effect through a combination of pushing and pulling. First, by creating wars and turbulence in other countries and regions, forcing talented people to leave. Then, by offering high scholarships, attracting outstanding students from around the world. The U.S. indeed provides generous treatment to top talents, ensuring that this creative mechanism continues to operate.
(Many overseas travel bloggers come to China to experience the real China)
But China offers a more optimized path. China has stopped the U.S. from creating turbulence in its surroundings and internally, providing the greatest guarantee for retaining talent. Through the construction and development of a market economy, China can also offer generous treatment to talent. China has a complete manufacturing system, and various innovations and creative ideas can quickly find trial production and manufacturing companies, which is of great significance for the iterative development of innovative products. Some small and medium-sized enterprises or start-ups can bring products to market at the fastest speed without running out of investment and going bankrupt during a long waiting period.
Most importantly, China itself is an ancient civilization with its own poetry, novels, music, sculpture, painting, and cultural systems. We have an inexhaustible and endless source of innovative basic materials. China also has a tradition of embracing and absorbing excellent achievements of world civilizations. In this way, the material civilization that China can create will eventually surpass that of the U.S., which follows the "take-it" approach or even the "steal-it" approach.
(Many countries have started to create a "Chinese Spring Festival Season" to attract Chinese tourists during the Spring Festival)
In fact, China has not shown such creativity for the first time. During the Tang Dynasty, China created a glorious civilization through its own innovation and the introduction of Western culture, making neighboring countries and nations bow in admiration, and its influence still affects the world today. If Americans feel surprised by the attraction China can generate, it must be because they haven't read enough history books. As the Chinese master industrialization and informatization, the atmosphere of the Tang Dynasty will return to the human world. If Americans feel humiliated by this, it is unnecessary.
Original: toutiao.com/article/7601356903729414692/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.