The looming prediction: China vs. America - A wager on catastrophe
Rewritten Article:
China's elite rulers are known to cosy up to books that shed light on the root causes of America's downfall, with "America vs. America" being one such popular read. Written by Communist Party's intellect Wang Huning way back in 1988, the book served as a blueprint for China's strategic approach to the West, specifically the United States. Is it possible that Wang's predictions are about to become a self-fulfilling prophecy?
Even in the early days of President Xi Jinping's tenure, there were whispers within his inner circle about the decline of the West, the U.S., in particular. In a memo titled "Document No. 9," he voiced his concern about Western democratic constitutional states, universal human rights, and free media, deeming them as threats to China's leadership.
Wang Huning, with his extensive service to Hu Jintao, Jiang Zeming, and Deng Xiaoping, was the architect of this ideological view. During a six-month stint in the U.S. in 1988, he was inspired to write "America vs. America," a book that quickly gained popularity within the Communist Party.
So, what made Wang Huning, the former chief ideologist, view the U.S. as a waning power? Two key factors still relevant in today's digital age, especially under the Trump administration, have the potential to dismantle globalization and further weaken America as a global power:
First, post the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Communist Party prioritized comprehensive healthcare initiatives that drastically increased life expectancy compared to other industrialized nations. Moreover, widespread vaccinations, accessible healthcare facilities, and travelling doctors in rural areas enabled the general public to embrace healthier lifestyles.
Second, immediately after the People's Republic's inception, the new leadership launched initiatives to teach the population to read and write alphabetically, simplifying Chinese characters in the process. As a result, literacy rates significantly increased, especially among women, compared to previous cohorts. The provision of free access to higher education until the end of the 20th century also contributed to a substantial upsurge in the number of university graduates, bolstering the competitiveness of China's workforce in the global market.
These transformative reforms continue to foster a well-educated, healthy, and skilled workforce within China, a country that catapulted its economy to global superpower status despite the stereotype of cheap labor. However, advanced manufacturing such as smartphone production and electric cars requires highly skilled workers to maintain high standards and quality, with cheaper options for textile production shifting to countries like Cambodia and Vietnam.
The recent Shanghai Auto Show serves as a testament to the rapid technological advancements in China while democratic nations struggle to keep pace. With the car of the future expected to drive itself, speak, and potentially fly, the age of high-tech ruling China is already underway.
However, despite these achievements, companies are increasingly looking to expand production in China due to the lack of appropriately skilled labor in the U.S. This trend became apparent when Donald Trump attempted to impose punitive tariffs to force companies to relocate back to the U.S., but instead, companies are finding it harder to move production away from China.
In stark contrast, the U.S. continues to grapple with high infant mortality rates, sky-high healthcare costs, and an exceptionally expensive education system. The resulting financial burden severely impacts families and young adults for years to come, creating an environment that may stunt democracy’s growth. Without excellent affordable education and healthcare, the value of democratic freedoms becomes irrelevant for the majority of citizens, especially when they are more concerned with survival than participating in politics.
Xi Jinping's perspective on America, though criticized by some, appears to be based on a keen understanding of the fragile state of Western democracies. Although China's version of "socialism with Chinese characteristics" may offer an alternative, living under an authoritarian regime without fundamental freedoms and human rights is a trade-off many continue to question.
- Wang Huning, in his book "America vs. America" from 1988, highlighted the U.S.'s possible decline, predicting factors such as education and health policies to dismantle globalization.
- The Communication Party's intellectual, Wang Huning, proposed these predictions based on his observations in the U.S. during his 1988 visit, when he noticed the impact of limited healthcare access and complex Chinese characters on literacy rates.
- Despite Xi Jinping's concerns about democratic constitutional states in Western countries, China's investment in education has led to a well-educated, healthy, and skilled workforce, propelling its economy to global power status.
- Conversely, the U.S., with high infant mortality rates, sky-high healthcare costs, and an expensive education system, struggles to foster a democratic environment due to citizens' focus on survival rather than participating in politics.
- Policies regarding health, education, and economy, whether democratic or authoritarian, have a significant impact on a nation's stability, wealth, and civic participation, as seen in the contrast between China and the U.S.
