JP: Wow. That is an impressive comparison. Your economic hit men have been very efficient.
Dr. Xi smiles.
Dr. XI: That’s true, but perhaps even more important is that US administrations, beginning with the younger Bush, have opened the door for us. All China had to do was step through.
JP: How so?
Dr. Xi: After the tragedy of 9/11, you focused your resources on wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and a few other places. You pretty much ignored Africa, Latin America, and much of the rest of the world. We didn’t waste our energy and money on fighting wars we couldn’t win. We focused on expanding trade everywhere – including the US’s traditional allies, like parts of Europe and, yes, even in the places where you fought those wars. John, I know you follow soccer. If this were a soccer game, the US team just kept handing the ball over to China’s strikers and pulling its goalie out of the goal.
JP: That’s a pretty cynical accusation.
Dr. Xi: It’s not an accusation, just the facts. All you have to do is look at the map to see the truth in what I say.
JP: But now along comes Trump and his promises to make America great.
Dr. Xi (laughing): That’s what he says, but his actions tell a different story. Slapping tariffs on allies like Canada and Mexico, cutting back on foreign aid, dropping out of the World Health Organization, threatening to invade Panama and buy Greenland, calling immigrants criminals – those sorts of things alienate people everywhere and generate fear of the US. When that happens, where do other countries turn?
JP: China?
Dr. Xi: Of course. We have the only economy large enough to offset the US’s influence. We can offer technical expertise, financial aid, goods and services, investment capital, and even protection, if that is needed. And here’s something else: I know that you in the United States like to talk about our so-called abuses of the Uyghurs and other Muslims, but much of the rest of the world sees the US as more anti-Muslin than us, given your invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq and your support of Israel against the Palestinians.
And one thing more: American economic hit men like you used to argue that democracy is always superior to authoritarian government. That you have a democratically-elected president who follows the rule of law, while we have a dictator who is above the law. Well… who won that argument?
JP (feeling the need to change the nature of our conversation): What do you see as the biggest mistake the US made before Trump— that as you said, opened the door to China in so many countries?
Dr. Xi: You answer that question in your own books. You point out that the Vietnam War taught the United States that military power can’t win hearts and minds, or even defeat more poorly equipped armies. After that, in the 70s when you were an economic hit man, the policy was to spread US hegemony through the economic and debt strategies your books describe. However, the US military-industrial-complex was not satisfied with this and continually pressured presidents and other politicians to ramp up the defense industry. This came to a head after 9/11 when the decision was made to combine the economic hit man approach with increased military operations. You invaded Afghanistan and Iraq. As I’ve already pointed out, this was a huge mistake. It not only drained your resources—it undermined your credibility around the world. It was the beginning of the end to the American era of global domination. It threw the door wide open to China.
JP: All of what you say may be true, or somewhat true, but, come on Dr. Xi, don’t you agree that Trump’s policies will strengthen the US economy and our military?
Dr. Xi: Please keep thinking that way, my friend. And writing those words. They play into our hands. You realize, don’t you, that this new US administration has already alienated itself from many countries that were once your loyal supporters? They don’t trust you to honor past agreements and they have no idea what actions you will take next. The US is seen as a bully, and no one likes a bully. People give in to bullies until they understand that they have to stand up to them – or turn to someone who will.
JP: China.
Dr. Xi (screen sharing the map once again): There’s an old Chinese proverb: If you want to build an empire, make friends, not enemies.
