Beyond the media hype surrounding the Chinese balloons, the evolution of relations between China and the United States is becoming increasingly worrying. A few years ago, Beijing and Washington would never have exchanged such harsh words for so little.
The deterioration of relations between Beijing and Washington dates back to 1989, with the events in Tiananmen Square. Thereafter, it will become increasingly clear to American leaders and their allies that China will not follow a democratic trajectory.
For their part, the Chinese leaders will do everything to prevent their country from replacing the defunct Soviet Union as the main enemy of the United States.
Chinese leaders will be well served by international events. The attacks of September 11, 2001 will facilitate China’s entry into the World Trade Organization the following December.
It is because the United States fears that China will ally itself with the Taliban or other hostile forces. Many still hope that through the magic of trade, China will become less authoritarian and that its fabulous market will open up more to products from industrialized countries.
The opposite will happen. Appointed head of China in 2012, Xi Jinping will toughen the regime and above all, in 2015, steer the country towards a certain autarky, promising that by 2025, 80% of the products consumed in China will be made in China.
From then on, the dream of the Chinese El Dorado collapsed. For the companies of the United States and their allies, the Chinese commercial manipulations become intolerable given the absence of business prospects. Hence, in 2016, Donald Trump’s incendiary statements on Taiwan.
Power multiplied
During these years, China’s economic power has multiplied. In purchasing power parity, it has become the leading economic power in the world, far ahead of the United States. Its army has been modernized, to the point of surpassing that of the United States in a few areas, such as quantum telecommunications or hypersonic missiles.
More than ever, China seeks to replace the United States in the world order.
This replacement would not be so serious if China were democratic. But she is not. From being authoritarian, his regime has become totalitarian, headed by Xi Jinping, an uneducated and dogmatic man.
Lust for power
Like Vladimir Putin, Xi does not understand that his thirst for power and his relentless dictatorship are his country’s worst enemies.
It is because of its harsh policies towards Hong Kong that the pro-independence coalition has gained strength in Taiwan.
It was still he who decided China’s catastrophic policy in the fight against COVID-19.
No one in democracies wants to live in a world that promotes Xi’s totalitarianism.
Disgust with totalitarianism is the new driving force behind the dynamic between China and democracies.