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Opinion
Thanks to Trump, Chinese people have a more realistic view of America
The positive view many Chinese had for the US has been replaced with one of a complex society dealing with many challenges
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Lijia Zhang is a rocket-factory worker turned social commentator, and the author of a novel, Lotus.
For much of the reform era, the United States occupied a special place in the Chinese imagination. When I was growing up in China in the 1980s, the US – or meiguo, the “beautiful country” – was more than a country. It was an idea.
Many Chinese, myself included, associated it with prosperity, freedom, scientific innovation and a functioning democracy. Even those who disagreed with American foreign policy often admired its institutions and power.
That admiration survived many shocks: the Belgrade embassy bombing, the Iraq War, the global financial crisis and years of strategic rivalry. Then came US President Donald Trump.
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Chinese scepticism towards the US did not begin with Trump, but his presidency accelerated a profound reassessment of America and what it represented.
When Trump first emerged on the political scene, reactions in China were mixed. Some welcomed him as a pragmatic businessman who appeared less concerned with human rights and therefore easier for Beijing to deal with. Others found him entertaining, regarding his unconventional style as a refreshing contrast to the scripted language of conventional politicians.
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Many educated Chinese, however, struggled to take him seriously. His insults, conspiracy theories and theatrical style seemed incompatible with their image of American politics. The US, after all, was supposed to be the world’s most mature democracy. Some assumed America’s institutions would restrain him. Others believed voters would quickly reject him.
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