THE WORLD THROUGH CHINESE EYES
CAN WE UNDERSTAND THE CHINESE PEOPLE’S POINT OF VIEW?
WE ARE THE GOOD GUYS!
We are smart, industrious, successful.��We carry the weight of long history and deep culture in our blood.
And we have a manifest destiny...
(But what we really want are good-paying jobs and a stable life.)
Confucianism and Communism
Commonalities:
Confucianism:
Communism:
�Chinese Language 中文�
(安 – woman under roof = peace, safety 好 – woman and child = good)
�没有共产党，就没有新中国�WITHOUT THE COMMUNIST PARTY, THERE WOULD BE NO NEW CHINA
Patriotic Education
“Growing up we were taught to obey. It’s written all over the political discourse and goes down to the very cultural fabric of society: We value conformity and harmony.”�
– Yang Gao, Mainland-born sociologist and researcher, Singapore Management University
I AM THE GOOD GUY!
I have made my people strong and proud.��I have made my nation prosperous.
�China’s rise proves the superiority of our system.
My goal is a Shared Future for Mankind...
(And I want eternal credit for bringing Taiwan back into the embrace of the Motherland.)
中华民族伟大复兴�GREAT REJUVENATION OF THE CHINESE NATION
Grievance Narrative
China, for centuries, was the central civilization of the world. (中国)
Due to Western imperialist ambitions, China suffered “100 years of humiliation” (1839-1949), starting with the first Opium War. Western powers, and then Japan, defeated China militarily, imposed unequal treaties, seized territory, controlled trade, and established spheres of influence within China.
The current world order, dominated by the United States and the West, is designed to prevent China from restoring its rightful place on the global stage. This is evidenced by trade restrictions, technology export controls, military alliances in Asia, criticism of China’s human rights record, and disputes over Taiwan and the South China Sea.
The United States and the West are threatened by China’s rise, and are therefore shifting the rules of global trade and the international order in order to “contain” China.
The Thucydides Trap�(Inspired by Athens’ challenge to Sparta in 5 BC)
A rising power challenges an established dominant power. The theory is that this leads to conflict, likely war.
All Chinese military and government leaders, and scholars, are familiar with this idea. They see it as an accurate depiction of the current situation. Xi Jinping referred to it in his recent meeting with Donald Trump.
The Chinese often phrase it as a “rising power challenging a declining power.” They believe the US is in decline.
China’s strategy is to avoid military confrontation while strengthening its economic and geopolitical influence. They speak of “win-win cooperation,” “multipolarity” and a “Shared Future for Mankind.”
�
�
USA: Land of Opportunity or Nation in Decline?
Drug abuse
Racism
Homelessness
Failing education
Ivy League schools
Research opportunities
Good jobs
Freedom
America’s Decline is China’s Opportunity
Filling vacuum on world stage
Seeking technological parity, or dominance
Soft power
The Art of War�“To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.” - Sun Tzu�
Objectives may be achieved through intelligence, psychology and diplomacy, so the opponent gives up, loses the will to resist, or finds cooperation preferable to conflict, by:
Unrestricted Warfare: Against What Exactly?
Chinese are fighting against:
Unrestricted Warfare – fighting by unconventional, non-kinetic, often asymmetrical means.�There are no rules; nothing is forbidden.
Soft Power: Confucius Institutes
Managed by Chinese Education Ministry, embedded within foreign universities and school districts to manage Chinese language and cultural programming. The first was in South Korea in 2004.
Academic Malware?�
– Stated purpose: Teach Chinese language�and culture; fund scholarships and study-�abroad trips to China.�
– Accused of: Academic censorship, influence operations, surveillance of dissident students, seeking leverage over academic personnel and institutions.
– Around 110 in US at their peak. Now fewer than 10. Some rebranded, reopened.�
� Operations� � – Flood social media with positive content � to drown out criticism.
– Change the subject when a domestic� crisis or controversial event is addressed.� – Avoid engaging directly in argument or� debate. � Mass Scale�� – 500,000 to 2 million operatives.� – Generate an estimated 448 million fake� social media comments annually inside� China. � – Global outreach increasingly targets� Western social media and political events.���
Soft Power: Online Narrative Control
“50 Cent Army” – paid bureaucrats� “Little Pinks” – volunteers
Mission: Cheerleading and Distraction
Chinese People in the United States
“Wherever you are, in a meeting, �at a party, any random event,�you assume someone is there�as a spy. They could be a big fish�or a small fry; there are layers�within layers of people reporting�to the Chinese authorities.”
- Jennifer Tai, Mainland-born public relations�executive working in New York City�
Belt and Road Initiative
China-led global infrastructure and economic development strategy, inspired by the historic Silk Road.�It aims to connect Asia, Europe, Africa and beyond through a network of land and maritime trade routes.
– Stated purpose: Stimulate global �growth, improve connectivity.
– Other goals: secure energy and �resources, develop new markets,�position China as leader of Global South.
�– Accused of: “Debt-trap diplomacy,” �ignoring environmental concerns, �importing Chinese labor, corruption �in bidding processes.
How is the China Model Working Out?
Lying flat 躺平
Let it rot 摆烂
Exhausted young adults can’t afford �housing or marriage, quitting the “rat race.”
Economic problems:
(Chinese households save 32% of their income)
Social problems:
Conclusion: China is the Future!� Support our global rise and be on the right side of history!
(Or, let us into your country to pursue our personal dreams and ambitions.)