We Shouldn’t Think So Badly of America

China is already the world’s second largest economy, surpassing America to become what many people expected of it. Even though from a purchasing power perspective, the World Bank has said that China’s economy has surpassed America’s, from an official exchange rate — nominal — point of view, there is still time before this happens. It hasn’t been long since the motto of China was to “catch up to England and to pass America.” In regards to scale, this is possible, but in per-capita measures, innovation and development catching up to, and passing, America will be a difficult and arduous task.

Many people regard America as China’s rival; however, I believe China is still in the process of learning from America. The U.S. and China are expanding their relationship, providing what the other lacks, promoting cooperation, and limiting conflict. In light of the Sino-U.S. relationship expanding and becoming more complex, additional comprehensive knowledge is required to approach all of the issues. One should not consider America only with a dichotomous state of mind: labeling things good or bad, or black or white. Applying simple labels to the U.S. or the rest of the world will not help anyone gain this knowledge.

To understand America, one must understand the composition of the American people, their roots and their ancestry. On the one hand, America maintained slavery for many years after it became a country, and a period of racial segregation followed that. During the colonial period, Americans also infringed on the land and country of the Native Americans. America has continued to infringe on other countries, including the armed invasion of Iraq at the beginning of this century, which created a humanitarian disaster. These acts all take away from America’s legitimacy to educate or lead other countries.

On the other hand, America also took up arms against Fascist countries in World War II. Even though Nazi Germany did not invade America, America still united with the Allies 70 years ago to use arms to defeat the Fascist countries and save Western Europe. At the same time, it extended aid to China, including sending personnel to assist China’s air force. Regardless of many actions being taken largely in part due to geopolitical and self considerations, America deserves many thanks from China for the principle and material support it provided at that time.

America helped construct the anti-Communist alliance during the Cold War, and for a long time has inhibited the unification of our country. But America has warmed up to and worked with Japan, despite seeking at one point to inhibit it. America also helped limit the Japanese right to wage war, regulate Japan’s self-defense forces and to possess nuclear weapons. This has had a positive effect on stability in East Asia. With the unification and consolidation of emerging economies, America is already starting to lose self-confidence; it has turned a blind-eye to Japanese militaristic actions abroad, which reflects strategic short-sightedness on its part. But this doesn’t take away from the stability that America once provided as a public good for all.

After Deng Xiaoping’s opening and reform, China owes a lot of its progress to America. Be it in technology, experience, or being integrated into world production chains or the trade system, these factors have greatly accelerated China’s capabilities. After the 18th meeting of the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, our country will enter a period of deepening reforms and building the rule of law. In these areas, America remains as an entity we can borrow from and seek to catch up with. Whether it is in developing industry, fostering scientific innovation, or in environmental protection, America is a target deserving of our objective study.

Studying the Sino-U.S. relationship is a two-way process. China has made wide and deep reforms over the past 30 years to rise to the world’s second largest economy. This has caused America to take notice of the Chinese experience and implement its policy of rebalancing. Regardless of whether it is in military affairs as with the “Air-Sea Battle,” or with the Trans-Pacific Partnership on trade affairs, both are trying to emphasize strengths while ignoring weaknesses. They are seeking China to become a new competitor, which it will become.