China is realizing the American dream. But on your own terms [ANALIZA]

Posted On: April 28, 2023

In 2005, then deputy head of the State Department, Robert Zoellick, gave a programmatic speech about the state of US-China relations. He noticed the enormous economic progress in China, he saw that it is a huge country, which is constantly developing and in the coming years will have an even greater impact on global events. “For the United States and the world, the big question is: How will China use its influence? Zoellick asked.

And he answered himself: “Our policy can no longer just let China into the world system; we must persuade it to become a ‘responsible stakeholder’ in that system.”

Zoellick hopes China “aligns itself with the international rules developed in the last century” and “joins the US in solving the problems of the new century.” He urged China not to associate with countries that “cause trouble” because that would show “blindness at best, something far worse at worst.” He called on Beijing to “account for its spending on armaments” and, above all, to carry out a “peaceful transformation of its political system”, i.e. make it a democracy.

Unbeknownst to Zoellick and other Americans, the speech was an embarrassment to China. Beijing does not feel compelled to explain itself or change its system at the behest of another country. China – even much weaker economically than it is today – has always thought of itself as a great and old civilization, which no one from outside should impose. Moreover, complementing the internal politics and dictate who they should associate with. So that no power – no matter whether it is democratic or autocratic – does not like to be erected, instructed and reprimanded.

Especially if, as in this case, the rebuke had come from the country that illegally invaded Iraq two years earlier.

The rest of the text is below the video.

18 years later – in 2023 – China is already a real global shareholder. Not only at the level of trade and economy, but also politics.

Early this year lead to the Saudi-Iran agreementthereby quelling, at least for some time, the Middle East’s most serious conflict. For months, they have also been trying to get involved in ending the war in Ukraine. They presented their 12 point positionwhich they presented during meetings with successive world leaders, including Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky.

Whatever the outcome of this engagement, China has had some initial success. Many countries around the world – including in Europe – have publicly stated that China’s involvement in Ukraine affairs is necessary, and certain points of China’s “peace plan” are a good starting point for further talks.

All of these diplomatic efforts by Beijing run counter to American policy. In the Middle East, the US has sought to isolate Iran for years, while Chinese initiatives aim to incorporate it into current regional policies. In Ukraine, Washington has continued to support Ukraine’s ambition to reclaim all territory occupied by Russia after February 24, 2022, while Beijing has urged the start of peace talks “here and now”.

By the way, Beijing is promoting its own vision of international relations, in which it doesn’t have to play the role Zoellick wrote for it – that of the US junior partner. China argues that there is no need to use dollars in international trade, and that China’s development path is more effective than that proposed by the Western world. They argue that they – and not the US – are the real “responsible shareholders” of the world order and that they are capable of resolving global conflicts and talking to all their sides.

In other words, China is only fulfilling the American dream. But on your own terms.