By Angelo Giuliano
In 2025, the world teeters on the edge of perilous geopolitical tensions, with the West's fear that a rising China will mirror its aggressive, hegemonic behavior fueling a dangerous misunderstanding.
This fear stems from projecting Western cultural and historical tendencies onto China's distinct, pragmatic worldview.
China's strategy, inspired by the realpolitik patience of the game of Go, champions multipolarity, economic engagement, and defensive posturing to advance its interests while fostering global stability.
In stark contrast, the U.S. pursues a confrontational, divide-and-conquer approach to maintain dominance through military encirclement, economic sanctions, and diplomatic isolation. These unfounded Western projections, misreading China's intentions, heighten the risk of catastrophic confrontation in an already volatile global landscape.
Understanding the cultural, philosophical, and historical roots of both nations is essential to dispel these fears and avert disaster, recognizing why one should not fear China's rise, as it prioritizes pragmatic stability over U.S.-style aggression.
Cultural and historical roots: The source of dangerous misprojection
The U.S. projects its history of conquest—over 400 interventions since 1776 and 800 overseas bases—onto China, fearing Beijing will seek global domination. This projection, rooted in a culture of Enlightenment individualism and colonial expansion, drives a zero-sum strategy that views China's rise as a threat to unipolar dominance. U.S. sanctions, up 933% since 2000, and violations like the 2003 Iraq invasion reflect a competitive ethos prioritizing control, escalating tensions in a world already fraught with conflict risks. Misreading China's intent through this lens could precipitate disastrous escalation, particularly in flashpoints like the Taiwan Strait.
China's philosophy, grounded in Confucian harmony, collective welfare, and long-term planning, is shaped by a 5,000-year history of centralized governance and resilience through the "century of humiliation." This fosters a Go-like strategy of patient, interconnected influence-building, championing multipolarity via institutions like the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to counter Western-dominated bodies like the IMF.
China's historical aversion to foreign domination drives a pragmatic focus on territorial integrity and non-interference, unlike U.S. interventionism. One should not fear China's rise, as its cultural pragmatism seeks stability, but mutual understanding is critical to prevent missteps in these dangerous times.
Economic strategies: Engagement vs. divisive containment
The U.S. projects its economic dominance, fearing China will control global markets, a misreading that fuels economic warfare risking global instability.
China's collectivist culture informs its dual circulation strategy, emphasizing self-reliance in AI and semiconductors to counter U.S. export controls targeting firms like Huawei.
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership build trade networks with the Global South, mitigating U.S. tariffs disrupting the $600 billion U.S.-China trade relationship.
This realpolitik model fosters interdependence, unlike the U.S.'s divisive "chips alliance," which fractures markets and heightens economic conflict. One should not fear China's economic rise, as it pursues pragmatic integration, but understanding its intent is vital to avoid a trade war that could destabilize an already fragile global economy.
Diplomatic and military approaches: Unity vs. confrontation
Diplomatically, the U.S. projects its norm-imposing culture, using AUKUS and "democracy versus autocracy" narratives to vilify China, fearing it will export authoritarianism. This escalates global divisions, risking diplomatic breakdowns. China's harmony-driven partnerships with BRICS, ASEAN, and the Global South via BRI and Confucius Institutes reflect a multipolar vision rooted in non-interference, uniting nations for mutual gain. One should not fear China's diplomatic rise, as it counters U.S. isolation with cooperation.
Militarily, the U.S. projects its expansionist history, fearing China will replicate its global footprint, a misreading that fuels dangerous tensions in regions like the South China Sea. China's defensive posture, focused on sovereignty, counters U.S. provocations like spy plane missions. Unlike the U.S.'s interventionist approach, China's Go-like restraint prioritizes territorial integrity. One should not fear China's military rise, as it seeks stability, not domination.
Averting catastrophe through mutual understanding
In these difficult and dangerous times, understanding the cultural, philosophical, and historical roots of China and the U.S. is crucial to dispel Western projections fueling potential conflict. China's realpolitik, multipolar vision contrasts with U.S. aggression, offering a cooperative path. The West's fear, projecting its hegemonic tendencies, misreads China's intent, risking catastrophic confrontation. One should not fear China's rise, as it prioritizes pragmatic stability. Arms-control agreements and climate cooperation could bridge divides, but mutual understanding is essential to avert disaster and foster a multipolar, stable 2025.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.
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