Reference News Network, November 5 report: The Hong Kong South China Morning Post website published an article by Zhang Bingliang, former Hong Kong Secretary for Transport and Housing and public administration consultant at the Hong Kong Education University, titled "China Will Find Its Own Path to Modernization, Not Imitate the American Model." The translation is as follows:

At present, the mutual understanding and compromise between China and the United States on trade issues helps ease tensions, but China has no illusions about America's deep-seated hostility toward China.

Trump claims to be skilled in resolving conflicts through pressure, but the United States can no longer control the situation at will. Perhaps small countries have to yield to his tariff threats, but major powers have the confidence to say "no" to him.

Other countries around the world are trying to adapt to the turbulence and disruptions brought by Trump. As Singapore's former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in July this year, we must learn to operate under a new situation where "the world temporarily loses one"—at least for now, this framework does not involve the participation of the United States.

The global economy remains volatile, but the latest forecast by the International Monetary Fund shows that the global economic growth rate will be 3.2% in 2025 and 3.1% in 2026, which is an upward adjustment from the prediction made in April this year. This indicates that countries are responding to the changing situation through policy adjustments.

China is acutely aware that any negotiation must be based on its own comparative advantages. In terms of economic and foreign policy, China is formulating strategies: expanding the global trade layout to achieve diversification and reduce dependence on the US market. In 2018, China's exports to the US accounted for 19.2% of total exports, but by mid-2025, this proportion had dropped to just 10%, while China's total exports have increased.

The proposal for the "14th Five-Year Plan" emphasizes the need to adhere to independent innovation and self-reliance to prevent being "strangled" by the US. China is also increasing efforts to develop new quality productive forces, expand domestic demand, promote high-quality development of real estate, resolve local government debt, and accelerate regional coordinated development.

The recent Chinese proposal for a "Global Governance Initiative" outlines the principles for reforming and improving global governance, which include upholding sovereignty equality, abiding by international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating people-centered approaches, and focusing on action-oriented initiatives. A multipolar world needs to establish new cooperation platforms that truly respect the interests of all countries (regardless of size) and build bridges connecting the global North and South.

The West used to be a model for Asian countries, but this influence is gradually diminishing. On one hand, due to the rise of the East, and on the other hand, because the US has adopted double standards in international affairs.

The rise of Asia is changing the world order. As a revived great power, China and India are no longer blindly following the Western rhythm. Both countries have a civilization history of thousands of years and will plan the next stage of modernization based on the inheritance of their historical heritage.

America and Europe may feel uncomfortable and uneasy about changes in the global balance of power, but the bellicose rhetoric that compares Sino-US relations to the "Thucydides Trap" only breeds fear politics. The West needs to re-examine Asia, especially to deeply understand Asia's history and values.

Today, China has the confidence to say "no" to the US in economic, military, technological, and cultural fields, and has sufficient confidence to advocate a non-Western narrative.

The defects of the American-style democracy exposed during Trump's administration are very obvious, and this democratic model is certainly not a universal solution for governance.

Each country and each civilization is exploring its own path to modernization. The Chinese path may not be suitable for other countries, but it highlights the importance of autonomous choice and self-reliance. (Editor/ Wu Mei)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7569207415939170825/

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