Opinion | Why in US eyes, China’s maritime ambition can only appear as a threat
- America’s own journey to power colours its perception of Chinese intention. What to Beijing is a defensive response to historical lessons is seen as a threat to US naval supremacy
- More understanding on both sides can help prevent grievous policy miscalculation
For most Americans, post-war prosperity and security depended on their country’s unique leadership as the dominant military power and the beacon of democracy. The United States is the world’s security guarantor, its dispute arbiter and deterrent force. America’s social fabric was based on this strategic identity, through which Americans saw their country shape the world.
From the Chinese perspective, however, American-led Western powers control the international order in ways that weaken or threaten lesser powers, especially in the developing nations, thus diminishing the stability and prosperity of the world.
These competing assumptions, if not moderated through mutual accommodation, can morph into full-scale economic, and potentially military, warfare, undermining the shared goals of peace and prosperity. These differences in culture and societal structures have long been emphasised as major causes of antagonism between China and the US.
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