Xinhua recently published an article in which Wang Xiangsui, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies in Aeronautics and Astronautics at Beijing University, discussed the current situation of China-U.S. relations and China’s strategy for handling the situation.
Wang said, “There are three major conflicts between China and the U.S.: the conflict between traditional and emerging powers; the contradiction between capitalist and socialist countries; and the contradiction between a financial nation with an industrial country. There are also two needs for cooperation between China and the U.S.: the need to maintain overall international security and the need to maintain global economic development.”
“The source of instability in Sino-US relations comes from the fact that the U.S. always adheres to the principle of the ‘U.S. getting the maximum benefits’ and wanting to take all of the benefits. For China, only through fighting can it protect its interests and maintain the basic situation of cooperation. … The nature of Sino-U.S. relations is one of competition between big countries.”
Wang believed that “the competitiveness of the U.S., including the American model, is in decline. The American Life cycle has entered the stage of decay.”
“Given the situation that the American style of globalization is difficult to continue and the new global order has not been established, the tide of globalization will be receding. When the U.S. has become powerless in global affairs, the world will enter the ‘post-American’ stage, showing a multi-polarization of forces and a diversification of civilizations. According to the current situation, there may be three major economic circles, or three entities: one in Europe, one in North America, and one of East Asia.”
As for China’s strategy, Wang said that China is on the path of revival, still climbing with a heavy weight, far from the stage of standing on the top and looking at all the hills from above.”
“With a clear understanding of China, the United States, and the world’s trends, we can determine that our strategic goal is not, at the moment, to replace the United States in leading the world, to promote the ‘Chinese system,’ and to start a ‘China moment’ and ‘Chinese cycle.’ Instead, China should utilize the remaining heat of American globalization and generally stable environment of the American cycle. It should begin a modern Chinese-style road … implement the strategy of forming entities, consolidate the Asia-Pacific Circle – Eurasian continent circle, and form a major economic zone on par with the euro and the dollar zones. In a division into a 3-way world, it should be satisfactory for China to acquire and lead one.”
Source: Xinhua, November 27, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2014-11/27/c_127257806.htm