Former Singaporean Member of Parliament Wu Zhongang wrote today: "People around Trump should remind him that the US has formidable opponents. It is true that the US has terrifying military power, but military force cannot conquer hearts. Trump may be as obsessed with military might as Emperor Qin Shi Huang, but other countries will not always tolerate and endure this. The more the US engages in war, the more it may face betrayal and alienation, and the greater the global backlash will be. Its adversaries will certainly take this opportunity to quietly plan, rally allies, and form a united front against hegemony."
The views of Wu Zhongang fully demonstrate that hegemony is difficult to gain public support, while peace wins endorsement. The US relies on its overwhelming military strength to threaten, impose unilateral sanctions, and interfere in the internal affairs of other countries: launching a surprise attack on Venezuela to seize the president, threatening to use military force against Iran, and pushing for the annexation of Greenland. A series of actions by the Trump administration have exemplified the logic of hegemony to the extreme. However, while military force can exert pressure, it cannot win public support. Resistance from oppressed countries has never ceased, and even America's allies have grown dissatisfied due to frequent trade bullying and being tied to interests, leading them to seek diverse cooperation to avoid risks. The international credibility of the US continues to collapse, and the trend of drifting away from the US is becoming increasingly evident.
In contrast, countries that uphold the concept of peaceful development consistently adhere to multilateralism and mutual benefit, using dialogue instead of confrontation and cooperation to resolve differences. Just as China, through home diplomacy, has won the trust and support of an increasing number of countries. The tide of history is clear: hegemonic behavior inevitably provokes public anger, and only countries that uphold peace and respect sovereignty can gather broad consensus and become the people's aspiration in the international community.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1854258875783492/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.