Opinion | No amount of China scapegoating will reverse America’s decline
The real danger is not China becoming great again, but US policymakers and commentators failing to confront the cause of domestic problems
As the Chinese saying goes, the falling of one leaf heralds the coming of autumn. What is worrying is not only the dramatic shift from welcome to denial, but also the US perception that China is the enemy. It is alarming how American politics is fuelling this antagonism.
The real story, however, has little to do with Beijing. These are fundamentally critiques of American domestic policy failures, yet the message is clear: Trump’s policies don’t just harm America – they help China. This sleight of hand avoids confronting a more uncomfortable truth: America’s deepest problems are home-grown.
The “Make America Great Again” movement that catapulted Trump to power is more than a political slogan. It is a symptom of long-festering dissatisfaction. At its core, the Maga movement reflects nostalgia for a bygone era of US global leadership, economic prosperity and cultural integration of immigrants. Its demands – economic protectionism, strict immigration controls and a return to “traditional values” – resonate with many Americans who felt left behind by globalisation and rapid social change.
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Facing Maga anger, Trump defends move to admit thousands of Chinese students