In a thought-provoking debate held at the Asia Society in New York, renowned Singaporean strategist Kishore Mahbubani engaged in a deep discussion with American scholar Orville Schell about the evolving dynamics between China and the United States.
Mahbubani, a distinguished fellow at the Asia Research Institute of the National University of Singapore and a former diplomat, articulated that China's ascent on the global stage is a natural return to its historical prominence. He emphasized that the United States, positioning itself as the \"No.1 power,\" is actively working to prevent its competitor from overtaking its influence.
Responding to Schell's inquiry about global perceptions of China's strategies, Mahbubani highlighted that observers from Asia, Africa, and Latin America view China's actions as the resurgence of a longstanding civilization. He pointed out a significant demographic insight: while 12 percent of the world's population resides in the West, a staggering 88 percent live outside it. This disparity, he noted, means that Western perspectives on China do not necessarily reflect the views of the majority.
\"What we see is the return of a civilization that we've seen for centuries go up and down. So this is a natural return,\" Mahbubani stated. He further added, \"When China tries to claim a place in the world as one of the great powers, it's a perfectly natural development.\"
Mahbubani also critiqued what he termed as \"American exceptionalism,\" pointing out that the United States is unique in its tendency to judge the internal political systems of other nations. He observed that many countries in the Global South appreciate maintaining normal trade relations with China, yet the strained US-China relations pose significant challenges.
Concluding the debate, Mahbubani stressed the importance of recognizing China's rise as a reality and the necessity of fostering good relations with both China and the United States. He expressed hope that the two superpowers would manage their differences constructively, avoiding global destabilization and instead focusing on critical issues facing humanity in the future.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
