By Shim Jae-yun
Chinese President Xi Jinping said foreign forces would "be crushed to death before the Great Wall" should they attempt to bully or influence the country. Xi also clarified China would not tolerate "sanctimonious preaching," apparently targeting the United States, during a speech at Tiananmen Square on July 1, marking the centenary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Xi's remarks reminded me of the harsh war of words between the top foreign and security officials from the U.S. and China in Anchorage, Alaska, March 18. The extremely tense meeting highlighted the beginning of hegemonic warfare between the two superpowers, each touching upon the most vulnerable parts of the other including human rights abuses and territorial issues.
Under the former President Donald Trump administration, China enjoyed rising global influence taking advantage of his isolationist "America first" policy. For Xi, it was a fortunate period as an increasing number of countries around the globe were turning their backs on the "unilateral" U.S. on many fronts such as trade and security.
But the situation has changed with the advent of the Joe Biden administration. Since its onset in January, Biden has declared "America is back" rallying allies behind the U.S. to focus on countering China, among others. For starters, via his visits to Europe last month, Biden managed to strengthen the anti-China alliance comprising the member countries of the G7, NATO and the European Union.
The rivalry between the U.S. and China will likely escalate. "Of particular note, both Biden and Xi enjoy wide support from their people," Yang Moo-jin, a renowned security expert teaching at the University of North Korean Studies, told The Korea Times. He said while "Biden is trying to muster U.S. allies to strengthen the hegemonic state, Xi is seeking to expand China's presence by flexing his leadership."
Xi unveiled his ambitious plan for China's rejuvenation ― completing the creation of a modern socialist state by 2049. As Xi put it in his speech, the CCP has led China to its current growth over the past 100 years, lifting the nation to become the second-largest economy behind the U.S. Its aggregate GDP reached $14.86 trillion in 2020, about 71 percent of the U.S.'s $20.80 trillion; while China has surpassed the U.S. in some state-of-the-art technology sectors including 5G.
Despite China's glittering growth and increasing influence, doubts are growing over whether Beijing will be able to achieve its long-term goals as envisaged. Globally, antipathy toward China has been growing as the country seemingly lacks the qualifications needed to be a global hegemon. Despite possessing military and economic prowess, China has yet to have soft power that appeals to other countries.
According to recent surveys in 14 advanced economies conducted by the Pew Research Center of the U.S., a majority in each had an unfavorable opinion of China. And the negative views have reached their highest points in countries such as the U.S., South Korea, the United Kingdom and Germany since the center began this poll a decade ago. The negative assessments increased the most in Australia where 81 percent of respondents said they view the country unfavorably, an increase of 21 percentage points since last year.
During a CCP meeting in late May, Xi cited the need for China to initiate an international agenda matching the country's power and prestige. Yet, skepticism is growing given China's oppression of press freedom in Hong Kong ― even shutting down the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily ― and human rights abuses of minorities in the Xinjiang region.
In external affairs, China has taken flak for having employed the aggressive "wolf warrior" tactics of bullying other countries, inviting severe repercussions from around the world. It has also been threatening to unify Taiwan by force. China should bear in mind that it cannot become a global power in the real sense through just physical force. What it needs urgently is generosity to embrace other nations.
Regrettably for Korea, China has also been attempting to expand its influence in totally inappropriate ways. For instance, it tried to promote Korea's traditional staple side dish kimchi as its own native food called "paocai." It also took retaliatory measures against world-famous K-pop band BTS after band members cited the need to cherish the Korea-U.S. alliance. These actions and others will only fan anti-China sentiment here.
Xi revised a party rule in a bid to extend his stay in power, a move which will heighten distrust of his country. Dictatorship and frenzied nationalism in China are totally undesirable for China itself as well as other nations. Xi needs to ponder who is bullying whom as it seeks to coerce others.
Shim Jae-yun (jayshim@koreatimes.co.kr) is an editorial writer of The Korea Times.
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Xi's remarks reminded me of the harsh war of words between the top foreign and security officials from the U.S. and China in Anchorage, Alaska, March 18. The extremely tense meeting highlighted the beginning of hegemonic warfare between the two superpowers, each touching upon the most vulnerable parts of the other including human rights abuses and territorial issues.
Under the former President Donald Trump administration, China enjoyed rising global influence taking advantage of his isolationist "America first" policy. For Xi, it was a fortunate period as an increasing number of countries around the globe were turning their backs on the "unilateral" U.S. on many fronts such as trade and security.
But the situation has changed with the advent of the Joe Biden administration. Since its onset in January, Biden has declared "America is back" rallying allies behind the U.S. to focus on countering China, among others. For starters, via his visits to Europe last month, Biden managed to strengthen the anti-China alliance comprising the member countries of the G7, NATO and the European Union.
The rivalry between the U.S. and China will likely escalate. "Of particular note, both Biden and Xi enjoy wide support from their people," Yang Moo-jin, a renowned security expert teaching at the University of North Korean Studies, told The Korea Times. He said while "Biden is trying to muster U.S. allies to strengthen the hegemonic state, Xi is seeking to expand China's presence by flexing his leadership."
Xi unveiled his ambitious plan for China's rejuvenation ― completing the creation of a modern socialist state by 2049. As Xi put it in his speech, the CCP has led China to its current growth over the past 100 years, lifting the nation to become the second-largest economy behind the U.S. Its aggregate GDP reached $14.86 trillion in 2020, about 71 percent of the U.S.'s $20.80 trillion; while China has surpassed the U.S. in some state-of-the-art technology sectors including 5G.
Despite China's glittering growth and increasing influence, doubts are growing over whether Beijing will be able to achieve its long-term goals as envisaged. Globally, antipathy toward China has been growing as the country seemingly lacks the qualifications needed to be a global hegemon. Despite possessing military and economic prowess, China has yet to have soft power that appeals to other countries.
According to recent surveys in 14 advanced economies conducted by the Pew Research Center of the U.S., a majority in each had an unfavorable opinion of China. And the negative views have reached their highest points in countries such as the U.S., South Korea, the United Kingdom and Germany since the center began this poll a decade ago. The negative assessments increased the most in Australia where 81 percent of respondents said they view the country unfavorably, an increase of 21 percentage points since last year.
During a CCP meeting in late May, Xi cited the need for China to initiate an international agenda matching the country's power and prestige. Yet, skepticism is growing given China's oppression of press freedom in Hong Kong ― even shutting down the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily ― and human rights abuses of minorities in the Xinjiang region.
In external affairs, China has taken flak for having employed the aggressive "wolf warrior" tactics of bullying other countries, inviting severe repercussions from around the world. It has also been threatening to unify Taiwan by force. China should bear in mind that it cannot become a global power in the real sense through just physical force. What it needs urgently is generosity to embrace other nations.
Regrettably for Korea, China has also been attempting to expand its influence in totally inappropriate ways. For instance, it tried to promote Korea's traditional staple side dish kimchi as its own native food called "paocai." It also took retaliatory measures against world-famous K-pop band BTS after band members cited the need to cherish the Korea-U.S. alliance. These actions and others will only fan anti-China sentiment here.
Xi revised a party rule in a bid to extend his stay in power, a move which will heighten distrust of his country. Dictatorship and frenzied nationalism in China are totally undesirable for China itself as well as other nations. Xi needs to ponder who is bullying whom as it seeks to coerce others.
Shim Jae-yun (jayshim@koreatimes.co.kr) is an editorial writer of The Korea Times.
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