Zhang Weiwei: The ‘Pillars of National Capacity’ Are Shifting to China

July 5—In a May interview with blogger Danny Haiphong, Chinese economist Zhang Weiwei of Fudan University said: “It is not bad, today, for China to speak frankly” to the United States and to the West; and Zhang proceeded to speak quite as frankly as Foreign Minister Wang Yi did later, on July 2, to European Union Foreign Affairs Representative Kaja Kallas.

Beginning an answer to a question about Pakistan’s successful use of China’s J10 fighter-bomber aircraft to shoot down Indian aircraft during their brief war in May, Zhang Weiwei went through what he called the four pillars of a nation’s capacity: the economic, the military, the technological, and the ideological or cultural. He said that “these pillars have sustained U.S. dominance, but are now shifting very rapidly in the direction of China” and other Global South nations. And China’s philosophy of foreign relations—“discussing together, building together, benefitting together”—is “why the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been so well received.”

Perhaps Zhang’s most pointed assessment was that, “If, God forbid, a conflict is provoked in the South China Sea or in the Taiwan Strait, the United States, in the world’s eyes, will no longer be a superpower.” But, he added, that in President Donald Trump’s view “there is respect for strong countries, strong leaders,” and he did not include President Trump among those Americans who have followed the media in misunderstanding China—identifying, particularly, members of Congress, whom he called simply arrogant.

The United States has a saying, Zhang concluded: “‘If you can’t beat them, join them.’ We hope that day will come soon.”