MistyMonkeyMethod wrote:I disagree with the premise of the article, seems a bit wishful. The question that should be asked is why would the Chinese look to the West, what's are the pull factors? Times have changed. Bar Chinese liberals who are few and far between, the mindset I quite often perceive from Chinese locals is looking at three things, Western politics, economics and military power.
In terms of politics and economics, it ain't a pretty picture. We have Trump, a bafoon come TV personality/clown, Brexit, Spain/Catalonia, right wing parties/majorities Austria, etc., shifting traditional allies Saudi/Turkey. Shrinking demographics, no growth, fiddled economic statistics, mounting debts, etc. Turning inwards, deglobalizing. Militarily, a quagmire in Afghanistan, loss in Iraq and Syria, mess in Libya, Yemen, Niger. What is attractive about any of this?
On the other hand, China is growing, people are getting richer, life is improving, health is taking a greater priority, global lead in green tech, manor scientific development and military development, even 4th tier cities are looking more modern than many Western capitals. However, no one seems to have leaned how to drive yet and the pollution is still quite terrible, but much improved year on year, been coming here past decades or so.
Of course, we can't ignore the historic context of interaction between the West and China, colonialism, resource theft, subjugation and humiliation. These factors sit firmly in Chinese psyche.
Also, considering China's place in the world in a historic context, particularly in relation to the silk road and its one belt one road initiative, it's quite telling about how they see themselves and their place in the world.
Realistically, the things they wanted from the West, they likely already got in terms of education (universities etc.,). Funny enough, I was at a conference in Shanghai a few weeks ago and a party official did a speach, one thing he said that really stood out, note this is to an international audience "Britain stole all everything wfrom all over the world, why can't China buy everything?", I think that pretty much sums up their point of view.
Good post, sums it up