Elizabeth Economy discusses China's vision for a new world order and emphasizes the need for the US to offer its own vision to compete. Topics include Xi Jinping's foreign policy initiatives, China's role in global politics, and the Secretary of Commerce's role in US-China strategy.
China is actively redefining global order through initiatives like Belt and Road, aiming to export its political model.
US must offer its own vision for new world order to out-compete China and shape future global order.
Deep dives
China's Strategic Initiative Under Xi Jinping
China, under Xi Jinping, is actively redefining the global order with initiatives like the Belt and Road project. This initiative extends beyond infrastructure to include political values and norms that align with Chinese interests, aiming to export China's political model and enhance its global influence. Xi Jinping's strategy also involves expanding China's military presence globally through initiatives like the Belt and Road, marking a significant shift in China's approach from previous years.
Global Initiatives and Belt and Road Expansion
Xi Jinping's strategic plan encompasses multiple initiatives like the Global Security and Development Initiatives, focusing on aid, health care, and green transition aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Global Security Initiative calls for a transformation in international security architecture, dissolving the US-led alliance system. Additionally, the Belt and Road project expands with a vast network integrating technology, political values, and new military bases globally.
US Role in Chinese Vision for a New World Order
To outcompete China's strategic vision, the US must offer its alternative new world order, emphasizing inclusivity and collaboration. While acknowledging China's accomplishments, the US must pivot towards defining and promoting its vision for an evolved international system. Embracing a proactive stance in diplomacy, economic development, and fostering global alliances is crucial for US presence in shaping the future global order.
Impacts of US Policy and Potential Return of Trump Administration
Continuity and potential disruptions exist in US-China policies across different administrations. A return of a Trump administration may alter broader US strategies such as industrial policies, alliances, and global leadership roles. The focus shifts to sustaining foundational competitiveness elements and fostering collaborative partnerships with allies, impacting the long-term effectiveness of US policies towards China and international leadership initiatives.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has a very clear vision for a new world order. And although observers in the United States may disagree with that vision, Washington should not dismiss it, argues Elizabeth Economy in a new piece for Foreign Affairs.
Economy is one of the foremost experts on China in the United States. A senior fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, she served as the senior adviser for China at the U.S. Department of Commerce from 2021 to 2023.
She stresses that if the United States wants to out-compete China, Washington needs to offer its own vision for a new world order; it can’t simply defend an unpopular status quo.