I need to apologize again for refocusing on US politics instead of Chinese affairs (perhaps I should rename this newsletter), but I think Professor Diao’s latest piece is worth sharing.
Back in the 90s, I learned a bit about China's projects in Africa. Back then, nobody believed me when I insisted China was on it's way to over shadowing the West
Don't apologise for presenting perspectives of Chinese citizens on Western politics. I speak as an English woman who hopes to visit China before I take my last breath. The landscape, of Sichuan particular, has enchanted since watching nature docs in my teens (some decades back). I find the culture and history of China as fascinating as I do mystifying. One thing I think I've got right about China is that whilst the Chinese state has for over 30 years been extending it's influence/creating transnational relationships, and building huge infrastructure projects, it plays it's cards close to its chest. Quietly getting things done and avoiding international media. Unless you can speak/and or read Mandarin, the Chinese state (thereby, also it citizens) deliberately maintains a position of being difficult to read, or make assumptions about. Yes, I'm trying to learn Mandarin - but probably only at HS1 level securely 😆. My point is, articles like this are very much 'Inside China' when you're on the outside. Thank you 🙏
> By understanding how China's academic and policy circles perceive Trump's negotiation style and decision-making patterns, we gain crucial insights into Beijing's evolving response strategy,
What specific insights can you surface for us less enlightened souls? I guess if the opinion is that its a long-term dissolution of the Washington consensus (hard to advocate rule of law and free trade when you trample over instructions and are pro-protectionist) then PRC is quite happy to sit back and let the swamp liquidify but its not like neo-Confucism (a la Singapore) has any innate appeal to the global south.
My understanding of the issue is that in terms of facing Trump, China is willing to take pressure and fight back directly. But in terms of providing a new governance model or a new "world order", I wouldn't say China has a conclusion on that, as far as I can observe.
Back in the 90s, I learned a bit about China's projects in Africa. Back then, nobody believed me when I insisted China was on it's way to over shadowing the West
Don't apologise for presenting perspectives of Chinese citizens on Western politics. I speak as an English woman who hopes to visit China before I take my last breath. The landscape, of Sichuan particular, has enchanted since watching nature docs in my teens (some decades back). I find the culture and history of China as fascinating as I do mystifying. One thing I think I've got right about China is that whilst the Chinese state has for over 30 years been extending it's influence/creating transnational relationships, and building huge infrastructure projects, it plays it's cards close to its chest. Quietly getting things done and avoiding international media. Unless you can speak/and or read Mandarin, the Chinese state (thereby, also it citizens) deliberately maintains a position of being difficult to read, or make assumptions about. Yes, I'm trying to learn Mandarin - but probably only at HS1 level securely 😆. My point is, articles like this are very much 'Inside China' when you're on the outside. Thank you 🙏
Many thanks!
> By understanding how China's academic and policy circles perceive Trump's negotiation style and decision-making patterns, we gain crucial insights into Beijing's evolving response strategy,
What specific insights can you surface for us less enlightened souls? I guess if the opinion is that its a long-term dissolution of the Washington consensus (hard to advocate rule of law and free trade when you trample over instructions and are pro-protectionist) then PRC is quite happy to sit back and let the swamp liquidify but its not like neo-Confucism (a la Singapore) has any innate appeal to the global south.
My understanding of the issue is that in terms of facing Trump, China is willing to take pressure and fight back directly. But in terms of providing a new governance model or a new "world order", I wouldn't say China has a conclusion on that, as far as I can observe.