China as a positive global actor

Beijing is replacing Washington

As the US continues to act like a pinball in a pinball machine, zipping from here to there often without a clear purpose and making plenty of noise in the process, China maintains a serious and sober position. The global community is noticing.

Most recently, China’s annual Two Sessions political gathering outlined reasonable goals for the country. (This summation of the multi-day event from Shen Shiwei is worth your time.) Foreign minister Wang Yi addressed China’s goals and other topics during Two Sessions in a 90-minute conversation with journalists from around the world. He said that even though international politics remains rife with uncertainty, China is maintaining a commitment to development at home and abroad.

In addition, he spoke of China’s unending belief in supporting bilateral relations, noting that in 2024 the country enjoyed positive diplomatic efforts with specific countries, including Russia, and with specific groups, notably the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation. Later this year, China will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization for a series of meetings involving more than two-dozen nations.

The foreign minister also said that peace and stability “should be the choice of all countries,” words that had to echo loudly throughout Europe, which continues to be stunned by the aggressive attitude displayed by US President Donald Trump and members of his administration.

For example, at last month’s Munich Security Conference, J.D. Vance, the US vice president, left mouths agape when he said, “There is no security if you’re afraid of the voices, the opinions and the conscience that guide your very own people.” It was bad enough that Washington appeared eager to shut Europe out of any talks that might end the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, but now the second most influential politician in America was putting into question whether the White House had any appreciation of the depth of US-European relations. In addition, Elon Musk, with no official government position within the Trump administration but still holding significant power, left Europeans distressed because of his public affinity for the far-right group Alternative for Deutschland, which finished second in Germany’s recent elections.

Meantime, the international community continues to ask whether the US understands it is risking worldwide economic chaos by issuing more and more tariffs. While the Chinese espouse robust free trade as a hallmark of the times, the Americans respond with on-off-back on-now delayed-now back on again tariffs against countries near and far. Tariffs are bad economic policy. One study after another has affirmed that the people within the country that lays down the sanctions end up paying more for goods and services, and businesses end up with layoffs or delays in generating new products.

Europe looks across the Atlantic Ocean to the US and should see storm clouds. But when it looks to Asia and specifically China, it should see a country eager to be an ally. China wants to strengthen communication, promote mutual respect and support global security. Should Europe listen? Yes seems to be the only answer.

China is not merely engaging in rhetorical niceties. Remember, it played an essential role in bringing together longtime Middle East rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia for a deal that would, in the words of one Chinese newspaper, “de-escalate tensions and restore peace in the Middle East as well as inject stability into a volatile geopolitical landscape.” Set aside that other actors over the past roughly 18 months have subsequently torn apart any stitched together fabric of peace, and instead remember that for decades it was the US that would take the time and effort to broker such agreements. However, with the US brand still tarnished from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (not to mention the belief throughout the region that it wishes to only back Israel), China brings new ideas and less baggage to the peace effort.

A generation ago, you and I would have acknowledged that the US was steadfast in maintaining the world order, however imperfect it was, and determined to promote peace, especially in the most volatile parts of the world. You and I also would have applauded Washington for seeing the benefits of free trade, even though we knew Washington’s deals came with unnecessary strings attached. And we would have applauded the US for setting aside billions of dollars to support necessary humanitarian efforts.

Today? We can’t do that. Instead another nation has stepped into the spotlight. All the while, the US lights up the pinball machine with extravagant lights and noises that attempt to cover up the decline in the country’s global standing.