About 15 years ago, the term “China’s Peaceful Rise” was coined and the use of soft power was to be used by China as a way to spread its influence to other countries and eventually overcome the US as the dominant country. Many western skeptics at the time laughed at the notion but China knows better and this won’t happen in a few years but rather in a few decades.
One of the cornerstones of the “China’s Peaceful Rise” is its relationship with the US. China knows even though that the US has wronged them, they must have a favorable relations with them. And over the years, despite the switch to and from Republican and Democratic presidents, China has maintained relations with the US in a peaceful manner. Relations with Democratic presidents tend to be worse like with Clinton and Obama but relations with Republican presidents was good with Bush and especially with Trump.
Now back to Trump. I have wrote an article a few months back just a few days after Trump is elected of why Trump’s presidency is good for China.
https://hiddenharmonies.org/2016/11/11/trump-presidency-and-why-is-it-a-good-thing-for-china-and-america/
6 months on, I was mostly correct about Trump’s policy towards China. China helped filling the pocket’s towards Trump’s family fortune, and return left the South China Seas alone, Trump willing to go along with China on talks with North Korea, and ASEAN countries going along with China instead of the US. Trump is mostly focusing on ‘terrorism’ instead the issues in Asia. The recent One Belt One Road forum is the beginning of the 2nd phase of China’s Peaceful Rise where China begins to spread its influence to other countries and its spread of its soft power. It certainly makes sense; the spends hundred of billions building military bases around the world while China spends hundred of billions building roads, railroads, bridges, and etc… Over the years the US’ failed foreign policies of bombing other countries into submission, China’s approach of spreading its influence is a welcome change.
The fall of BaiZuo?
I found this meaning online recently and it is pretty interesting. It literally means “white left” which refers to America’s Liberals. This link is an interesting read of the recent talks within China about this. Probably the best description is;
Although the emphasis varies, baizuo is used generally to describe those who “only care about topics such as immigration, minorities, LGBT and the environment” and “have no sense of real problems in the real world”; they are hypocritical humanitarians who advocate for peace and equality only to “satisfy their own feeling of moral superiority”; they are “obsessed with political correctness” to the extent that they “tolerate backwards Islamic values for the sake of multiculturalism”; they believe in the welfare state that “benefits only the idle and the free riders”; they are the “ignorant and arrogant westerners” who “pity the rest of the world and think they are saviours”.
In the past many of America’s Liberals were also progressive. However, many recent Liberals are elites who cares little about the poor and the oppressed like the Clintons, Obama, and even other leaders like German’s Chancellor Angela Merkel. Perhaps the rise of Trump is the beginning of the fall of the liberals because of his stance of isolationism. Even with the unpopularity of Trump, the Liberals don’t have an answer either because they care about maintaining the world order whereas Trump cares about profit. In the next few years the Democratic Party is trying to re-invent itself. But will be it be a party of the people like being a progressive or be a party of the liberal who will try to maintain itself as the top dog of the world?
Ray says
I believe you meant Baizuo.
alanking says
I think the description of Baizuo above is good, but i will also append the following:
“they are totally clueless about the main threat to world peace and will mindlessly follow western MSM propaganda to the point of nuclear Armageddon.”
pug_ster says
Sorry, I changed it.
N.M.Cheung says
I agreed with you the rise of Trump is good for China in long term as it accelerates the decline of U.S., but I didn’t realize it would be good for China in short term also as Trump/Russia debacle prevents him from focusing on China even on trade. On the question of Baizuo, I have to disagree with you. To me liberals are pretty much establishment center in U.S.. Left really doesn’t exist in U.S.. Sure, those white liberals you described favors some programs for the poor, but essentially favors maintaining the empire whatever the cost. Bernie Sanders may be an exception, that’s why establishment will not allow him to lead. I also stated that the military budget under Trump will increase greatly and Trump will not withdraw as an empire.