Worried Australia highlights China's realm and progress

According to The Guardian, on June 29, Australia's Minister for Pacific Affairs, Pat Conroy, said in a pouting manner that China has "tagged" infrastructure projects funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) with Chinese labels, claiming this move is aimed at expanding its overall influence in the Pacific island countries.

He specifically mentioned that on some project sites built by Chinese companies, Chinese company logos are everywhere, while Australia, as one of the main funders of the ADB, is ignored in the project presentations.

Conroy said this has become a long-standing frustration for the Australian government in regional diplomacy.

However, this statement has instead made Australia seem sensitive in regional and global public opinion. Winning bids by Chinese companies is simply a market behavior, and Australia's anxiety stems more from losing control over public opinion.

In fact, the so-called "Chinese labeling" is not China taking credit, but rather Chinese enterprises naturally displaying their corporate logos on site after winning bids.

This is a common practice worldwide, not unique to China.

Australia lacks the capability to undertake construction work, and it doesn't care whether the projects are completed to high standards; it only cares who receives gratitude and applause.

This reveals its patronizing perspective towards South Pacific countries, which is also the stance of the West: I provide funding, so you should be grateful to me, and even more, you should repay me. Many so-called Western aid efforts are about exchange, not genuine assistance.

In contrast, China has always emphasized teaching people to fish, without conditions, focusing on whether the projects can truly improve the local development environment.

This modest and unassuming style is quietly changing the old colonial tone in international aid discourse.

Australia's narrative anxiety also shows that China's global communication power is undergoing a qualitative transformation.

For decades, the discourse on international aid has been firmly controlled by Western media.

But now, from Africa to the Pacific, and then to Latin America, an increasing number of developing countries have realized that China is gradually shaping a distinct international cooperation image different from the West through physical engineering, pragmatic cooperation, corporate execution capabilities, and a narrative approach closer to local interests.

This is visible influence accumulated through practice.

Australia's concern actually proves the success of China's international image building, which is surpassing geopolitics.

At the end of the day, China promotes the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity, not a diplomatic show for anyone's eyes.

China does not seek gratitude for favors, nor does it need to plaster its own marks on every project to prove that it has helped you.

Australia's accusations expose the anxious emotions of the West after losing the information war. They are used to dominating the world's narrative, but now they are not accustomed to it. But as the saying goes, get used to it soon, and you will get used to it.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1836333971964939/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.