zlacker

It’s amusing to see discussions about exotic markets like this. While I don’t agree with the CCP’s policies, I believe the issue is more related to free-market dynamics. Given today’s inflation, potential buyers are saving every penny. In China, unlike in the West, people spend based on their expectations and income, and they never resort to deficit spending.

Considering the market situation and geopolitical factors, it is foreseeable that labor-intensive, low-value-added manufacturers are going bankrupt. Frankly, Europe and the US face similar situations.

Regarding Taiwan and the South China Sea, the distrust of the East among Chinese people is influenced by historical experiences with North Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. However, in today’s world, war is a significant and serious issue, and ordinary citizens do not want to face its bitter consequences. What confuses me is that Western media often portray China as a threat, while Chinese mainstream media exaggerate these reports, deepening mutual hatred.

P.S. I’m Chinese.

>>humanl+(OP)
To be fair China is a threat. For the last 200 years we've lived in a world dictated by the West. All other nations have always agreed to abide to the Western world view.

Ofcourse China is at its core only a symptom. The world economy- and everything that goes with it- is irrevocably shifting to Asia. It's kinda offensive to see Americans talk about Vietnam or India. They see them as vassals not independent nations with interests of their own.

>>humanl+(OP)
> What confuses me is that Western media often portray China as a threat, while Chinese mainstream media exaggerate these reports, deepening mutual hatred

There is a mutual lack of trust and dialogue amongst Chinese and American decisonmakwrs - most of whom started their careers in the late 1980s/early 1990s and thus lack modern in-depth experience in the West or China respectively.

Both the Trump and Xi admins both bled competent advisers at the expense of populist and hawkish advisers, which degraded the ability for nuance in both the US and China's policymaking.

Imo, the biggest issues have been the MFA/State Dept and the CMC/DoD in China/US. Both had massive attrition of experienced policymakers in the 2016-19 period, which caused a game of economic brinkmanship.