Some kind of global dialogue is needed for the world to move away from the "Thucydides trap", and other zero-sum mindset that seems to characterise so much of the international relations community, especially in the West. We each need to look at the world from the perspective of our rivals, find common ground, and look for ways to make the world a better place for all nations. So we have good reason to welcome China's four global initiatives.
It is unfortunate that so many Western analysts (including perhaps this one?) seem to treat every Chinese initiative with cynicism, seeing it as some kind of attempt to exert Chinese influence. This kind of zero sum mind set ends up making all of us worse off, taking the world to a future World War 3.
Some kind of global dialogue is needed for the world to move away from the "Thucydides trap", and other zero-sum mindset that seems to characterise so much of the international relations community, especially in the West. We each need to look at the world from the perspective of our rivals, find common ground, and look for ways to make the world a better place for all nations. So we have good reason to welcome China's four global initiatives.
It is unfortunate that so many Western analysts (including perhaps this one?) seem to treat every Chinese initiative with cynicism, seeing it as some kind of attempt to exert Chinese influence. This kind of zero sum mind set ends up making all of us worse off, taking the world to a future World War 3.