Chinese vs. U.S. Foreign Policy: Acupuncture vs. Surgery

The difference between China and America in economic and national defense policy and strategy does not only come from their differing national interests; on a deeper level, it stems from a difference in their cultural traditions.

When addressing problems like the one posed by Iran, America wants China to impose sanctions, provide the U.S. with support or exert pressure on Iran, even to the point of considering military intervention. However, the Chinese government has repeatedly used its veto power to block sanctions, and has always been suspicious of the choice of military action. The reasons behind this undoubtedly include national interests, but it also comes from the difference in the perspectives with which these countries regard the objective world. This difference in perspective is deeply rooted in the two countries’ cultural psychology.

The difference in the Chinese and American perspectives seems to originate from differences in their ancient medical traditions. America and the West in general tend to use various surgical operations and other such medical procedures to completely eradicate the ailment, and this process is sure to require a sharp scalpel, so the patient will lose some blood. They believe that once the afflicted portion is cut off, the remaining body will be entirely healthy. In comparison, Chinese traditional medical theory pursues low-trauma, long-term treatment, using treatments such as acupuncture to slowly cure the patient, and avoiding using knives on the patient’s body. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that acupuncture can help one’s whole body to recover, whereas surgical operations injure “qi,” thus adversely affecting the body’s recovery.

The same reasoning can be applied to the foreign policy differences between China and America. America believes that military interference is just like a scalpel, the result being instantaneous. China, on the other hand, believes that military intervention will not only fail to solve the problem, but instead will make the situation worse. One should use the smallest possible external interference to activate internal capabilities, causing the situation to gradually improve from the inside out. In other words, the difference between American and Chinese foreign policy is actually the difference between using a scalpel or acupuncture needles.

Moreover, America and China hold differing opinions on what is a successful intervention. Facing the media’s constant critique and urging, Western countries desire to see clear-cut, short term results like the Iraqi regime change. China doesn’t have an overbearing media and also lacks the pressure of elections. Consequently, China has time to consider problems from a long term perspective.

America has already invested over $100 billion on the war in Iraq, but internally, Iraq is still an unceasing, bloody conflict. Now, America wants to perform an operation on Iran. To China, this kind of thinking is simply hard to believe. This operation would be disadvantageous for China and America both.