Transcription
Well, one thing I want to say, another startling thing for your American audience that which they should be aware of is that there are 8 billion people on planet Earth and the United States only represents 330 million people. The 330 million people in the United States of America have been captured by a very negative uh portrayal of China. uh and believe that China is out to dominate the world and China is a threat to the world and you know one thing that Americans should do is travel around the world and see how the rest of the world views China and they'll be surprised to discover that almost no other country shares this uh incredibly negative view of China that the Americans have developed of China and Americans have isolated themselves from the rest of the world uh with their characterizations of China because if you look around the world substantively most countries in the world are stepping up their links with China.
Yes, Professor Kosor Mabubani is absolutely right. When the United States talks about China, it often says China is a threat. But if we look at the facts, this claim doesn't really hold up. The US has more than 750 military bases in over 80 countries around the world. These bases surround Asia, the Middle East, and even parts of Africa and Europe. China, on the other hand, has only one overseas military base in Djibouti. And it's mainly used to fight piracy and secure shipping routes. Clearly, if we're talking about global militarization, the US is the one with worldwide reach, not China.
Besides that, China's rise has not come from building armies overseas, but from building trade networks, infrastructure, and partnerships. Through projects like the Belt and Road Initiative, China has helped countries construct ports, highways, and railways, boosting local economies, and creating opportunities. While the US often interferes in the politics of other nations, China follows a policy of non-interference, which many developing countries respect. This is why so many countries today are choosing to work more closely with China instead of isolating it.
In Africa, for example, China has become the biggest trading partner, funding hospitals, schools, and roads without demanding political conditions. In Southeast Asia, even countries with disputes over the South China Sea continue to strengthen economic ties because they know China is essential for the region's growth. And in Europe, despite pressure from Washington, many governments still trade heavily with China because their industries rely on access to the Chinese market.
Most countries don't see China as a danger. They see it as an opportunity. They want to benefit from China's 1.4 billion consumers, its growing technology sector, and its investments. Unlike the US, which often uses sanctions and military power, China uses commerce, development, and diplomacy. So when America says China is a threat, the rest of the world isn't so sure. They see the difference. One superpower that surrounds the globe with military bases and another that connects the globe through trade and development. For many nations, the choice is clear. China is a partner, not an enemy.
I mean, what about major neighbors Japan and India? Do they have a more optimistic view of China than the United States?
No, no. I think it is by the way, when you live next to a country that used to be a mouse, a small mouse. And remember in the year 1980, the US economy was what, 10 times the size of China. Uh, now it's only 1.5 times bigger. So in the region, the elephant has become a mouse. So that the mouse has become an elephant and trust me, of course, every neighbor of China is concerned uh about China's rise, but the question is how do you manage China's rise? And the United States has decided to demonize China and and put China completely in the negative uh ledger. But you will find that countries, all the neighbors, including by the way, the two countries you mentioned, Japan and India, have actually stepped up their trade links uh with China. And India and China, as you know, uh have had a very bad relationship since June 2020, but they've now tried to normalize their relations uh with China. So most countries in the world have normal traditional uh bilateral relations with China. They're they they're not necessarily uh, how do you say, uh pro-China, but they're certainly not anti-China. They see China as a reality that we have to live with. So the American perception of China is not shared by the vast majority of the world's population. And I'm surprised how few Americans are aware of this huge reality that Americans have isolated themselves with their demonization of China.
Western media often says if China isn't a threat, why do its neighbors like Japan and India see it that way? But this argument doesn't tell the full story. Take India. Yes, there have been border disputes and tensions in recent years. But despite those challenges, India and China are still deeply connected. They are both members of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), where they cooperate on trade, finance, and security. Recently, the two countries have been working to stabilize relations. India has resumed trade talks, and both sides are carefully managing the border situation to prevent escalation. In fact, trade between India and China has been growing, reaching over $100 billion annually. That doesn't look like two nations preparing for war. It looks like two nations recognizing they need each other economically.
When Western audiences bring up Japan, they usually point to Tokyo's political alignment with Washington. It's true, Japan is a close ally of the US, and under that alliance, it often echoes American concerns about China's military rise. But here's the other side of the story. Economics bind Japan and China together in ways politics cannot undo. China is Japan's largest trading partner, accounting for nearly a quarter of Japan's total exports and imports. Japanese companies like Toyota, Sony, and Panasonic rely heavily on China, not just as a manufacturing hub, but also as a massive consumer market. Millions of Japanese jobs are tied to this relationship. That's why despite security concerns, Japan continues to engage China in dialogue. High-level meetings between leaders happen regularly, and both sides know that decoupling would cause enormous damage. In other words, Japan might voice security worries, but in practice, it is too economically intertwined with China to treat it as a true enemy.
Now, let's look at the Philippines. This country often makes headlines because of disputes in the South China Sea. Western media frames it as if the Philippines is moving closer to the US to counter China. But the reality is more nuanced. While the Philippines has recently strengthened its military ties with Washington, its economy still depends heavily on China. China is one of the Philippines' biggest trading partners and its largest source of tourists before the pandemic. Chinese investments in infrastructure under President Duterte's administration showed how much Manila values Chinese cooperation. Even today, despite maritime tensions, Philippine leaders have openly said they don't want to choose sides. They want American security guarantees, yes, but they also want Chinese investments, markets, and tourism. Ordinary Filipinos benefit directly from trade with China. Whether it's agricultural exports, construction jobs from infrastructure projects, or remittances tied to business links. For the Philippines, completely turning away from China is simply not realistic.
So whether it's Japan, India, or the Philippines, the story is the same. Yes, there are disputes and political tensions, but the practical reality of geography and economics forces cooperation with China. Unlike the US, which can afford to stir up conflicts from across the Pacific, these countries live right next to China. They know that managing relations, not destroying them, is the only path forward.
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