Japanese Defense Budget Expansion Includes Two 20,000 Ton Cruisers

[MH.Yang]

It’s true, China would have to trust the Saudis to be giving them such advanced weapons. There is definitely a political component.

Many people have misinterpreted the relationship between China and the United States.

Firstly, the deep-seated conflict between China and the United States lies in the fact that the two countries' different routes to economic development require different worlds. China's economic development depends on trade, and trade requires a peaceful and stable world. American economic development depends on domestic demand, and war is the greatest domestic demand.

Secondly, China and the United States have no historical hatred. China's centuries-old shame comes mainly from Britain, Japan and Russia. In the two world wars and the cold war, China and the United States were allies. In the Korean War, China was the victor. Therefore, China's civil aversion to the United States comes mainly from disputes over interests triggered by the trade war and the question of Taiwan.

Thirdly, China's mindset on expansion is very different from that of the West. China prefers to penetrate its neighbourhood through its economy and mindset, preferring to follow the traditional "内圣外王" model. Therefore, whether it is the historical China or the present China, it is not willing to interfere too much in the internal affairs of other countries. This has actually made it difficult for China to subvert the hegemony of the United States even if it has more power than the United States.

Fourth, it's not what many Westerners think. The values and collectivism of the current CCP are rooted in thousands of years of Chinese history and tradition, and it has long since been modified to become what the vast majority of Chinese people want it to be. So in fact we know very well that there is almost no chance that Western values will shake the Chinese people and Chinese society. Unlike many countries, we do not see the existence of Western values as a threat.

Fifth, the Chinese have gained hegemony many times in our history, so we are well aware that fate's gift to us has long since had a price tag in the dark. Maintaining hegemony comes at a price. If we need to liberalise immigration, consume the blood of our children, destroy our long lineage, traditional morals, traditional civilisation and other treasures that we hold dear. Then we don't want hegemony. Unlike those ignorant Indians, the hegemony thing doesn't appeal to us enough, even the term "superpower" is pejorative in China.

Overall the relationship between China and the United States is not a hegemonic struggle akin to a zero-sum game, as many people think. The two countries are more like a couple who are at odds with each other, but need each other too much to get divorced. If one wants China to really intervene in the Middle East and completely upend the roots of American hegemony, the Chinese government would definitely hesitate to do so.