A fortified China may contribute to a safer global environment
In a recent interview, Chinese scholar and commentator Zhou Guangtian (Zhou GT) expressed concerns about the portrayal of China in Western media. Zhou GT believes that the media often presents a biased picture of China, driven by political and ideological motives.
According to Zhou GT, Western media selectively focuses on negative incidents, frequently using terms like "aggressive" and "coercive" to describe China. This framing, he argues, aligns with a narrative that supports containment or criticism of China, while downplaying or ignoring peaceful efforts or development by China.
Zhou GT attributes this bias to a lack of understanding or deliberate distortion by Western media, which may prioritize sensational stories and geopolitical competition over objective reporting on China’s policies.
The scholar's views were echoed in a long book review in Foreign Affairs magazine, which claimed that Zhou GT's book, "Should the World Fear China?", offers "paeans to China as a responsible and stabilizing player in a chaotic world."
In the same interview, Zhou GT was asked about any moments during the ongoing trade war or trade negotiations that particularly stood out. However, the search results do not contain information about his views on these specific issues.
Zhou GT also mentioned the South China Sea, stating that casting China in a benign light is "implausible" due to the use of water cannons by the Chinese coast guard. He did not elaborate further on this point.
In a nod to historical figures, Zhou GT quoted Napoleon, saying "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake." This quote suggests a strategic approach to dealing with conflicts, rather than a direct criticism of Western policies.
Despite these criticisms, Zhou GT has emphasized that the US is not China's enemy. However, he noted that if the US makes mistakes, such as in the trade war, and impacts China and rallies its allies to create an exclusive rule-making system, a wise response would be needed.
Zhou GT's book and his recent comments indicate a desire for a constructive China-US relationship. He suggested that such a relationship would involve avoiding becoming enemies, but it's unclear what specific characteristics this relationship would have.
Zhou GT's insights offer a perspective on the complex dynamics between China and the West, highlighting the need for balanced and objective reporting on global affairs. His book, "Should the World Fear China?", provides a deeper exploration of these issues and is available for readers interested in learning more.
In the context of the complex dynamics between China and the West, Zhou GT's book, "Should the World Fear China?", offers insights on the need for balanced and objective reporting on policy-and-legislation and general-news, particularly in the wake of biased portrayals of China in Western media that are driven by politics. His views also encompass the significance of understanding China's peaceful efforts and development rather than emphasizing negative incidents or sensational stories.
