‘Nationalism in China has grown with Xi Jinping— many citizens think economic showdowns with the US are part of China's rejuvenation'
Princeton University
. Speaking to
Srijana Mitra Das
, he discusses what's driving
China
— in the era of Donald
Trump
:
Q. What is the core of your research?
A
. I study Chinese politics — I've researched public opinion in China, how citizens think about the
Chinese Communist Party
(
CCP
) and the regime. I've worked on US-China relations and how American foreign policy makers think about US-China ties. Finally, I've been working increasingly on authoritarianism in general and particularly authoritarian trends in the United States and elsewhere in the democratic world
Play Video
Pause
Skip Backward
Skip Forward
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
0:00
Loaded
:
0%
0:00
Stream Type
LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
1x
Playback Rate
Chapters
Chapters
Descriptions
descriptions off
, selected
Captions
captions settings
, opens captions settings dialog
captions off
, selected
Audio Track
default
, selected
Picture-in-Picture
Fullscreen
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text
Color
White
Black
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Opacity
Opaque
Semi-Transparent
Text Background
Color
Black
White
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Opacity
Opaque
Semi-Transparent
Transparent
Caption Area Background
Color
Black
White
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Opacity
Transparent
Semi-Transparent
Opaque
Font Size
50%
75%
100%
125%
150%
175%
200%
300%
400%
Text Edge Style
None
Raised
Depressed
Uniform
Drop shadow
Font Family
Proportional Sans-Serif
Monospace Sans-Serif
Proportional Serif
Monospace Serif
Casual
Script
Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values
Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Q. Which main features define the US-China relationship today?
A
. The US-China relationship has undergone a significant transformation starting with Donald Trump's first administration. We saw the end of the broad idea of engagement with China then and a shift towards 'strategic competition', which sees these as rival countries, competing economically, in science, military power, international influence, etc. Some in the US policy arena even believe we are in a Cold War with China — we just haven't realised it yet.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Linda Kozlowski, 67, Shows Off Her Perfect Figure In A New Photo
Today's NYC
Undo
Q. How do most Chinese view America under Donald Trump?
A
. There is a general decline in attitudes towards the US — and a rise in nationalism, which corresponds with
Xi Jinping
's ascent. The party has used external competition to foster nationalism at home and frames geopolitical competition with the US as a foreign power trying to contain China's rise — this resonates with Chinese history and the idea of the 'Century of Humiliation'. There are some pockets of admiration for Trump — some Chinese view him as humourous and appreciate his off-the-cuff style. However, these aren't particularly large constituencies. More common is the idea that Trump is eroding American competitiveness and, in turn, helping China's rise.
Q. Can China actually afford to decouple economically from America?
A
. My understanding is that full economic decoupling would be costly for both sides. I think this rhetoric from the CCP is a bargaining chip to show resolve before heading into talks. More broadly, the Chinese government has been preparing the population psychologically for war with the US and economic showdowns — Chinese citizens have been socialised into thinking any of those costs are part of the struggle for national rejuvenation.
Live Events
Q. Does an authoritarian state like China have politics?
A
. Yes — it's just difficult to observe. The machinations which occur at the elite level, between Xi Jinping and other leaders in the
Politburo
and Politburo Standing Committee, cannot be readily observed — so, the degree of disagreement at that level isn't really known beyond signals in state-owned newspapers, etc. There is also mass-level politics — occasionally, the population engages in collective action that shifts policy-making. The 'White Paper Revolution' occurred in 2022 on the back of the long 'Zero-Covid' period in China which became increasingly draconian. Citizens protested then and the government had to roll back some of those policies. The citizen voice is muted — but it has an impact.
Q. Are most state decisions mainly diktat?
A
. Of late, the CCP has tried to emphasise 'consultative processes' — this is 'consultative authoritarianism', where a government isn't just ruling by diktat but tries to incorporate public preferences. We see this in China's People's Congress System — every year, deputies convey different suggestions to the government. Laws put forth through the National People's Congress are posted for comment. Citizens can contact municipal governments through Mayor's Mailboxes. There are ways for people to express grievances — the question is, whether the government responds. My assessment is under Xi Jinping, we have not seen a strengthening of such channels. They exist but overall, there's been a relative closing of politics under him. Civil society organisations have been gutted — increasingly, this process is just lip service.
Q. China has some of the world's most capitalistic billionaires — how do they view life under a communist state?
A
. Importantly, the CCP shifted its strategy about business elites in the last few decades — under Mao and the early years of Deng Xiaoping, the party was for peasants and workers. Jiang Zemin introduced the concept of 'The
Three Represents
' which sought 'advanced productive forces' — that's code for 'capital' —– to be brought into the party. Since then, the CCP has been quite cosy with business interests. Since the 2000s, the CCP is quite an elite party — it is nominally communist but in key levels of leadership, you'd be hard-pressed to find working-class people.
Q. Has the drive to become a global superpower reduced dissent in China?
A
. It's important to note there are many people in China who dissent. It's hard to see them and several face real consequences. However, people in Xinjiang or Tibet, for instance, would take issue with the CCP, which is basically a Han-dominated regime. Young feminists in China understand the CCP as a traditional patriarchal authoritarian regime, while parts of the periphery, like Hong Kong, are not fully on board. In democracies, disagreements are front and centre — they are organised into parties that raise funds and compete electorally. In China, the party claims to represent everyone but glosses over dissent. Also, the Chinese's government's repressive capacity has increased so much in the last decade that a large-scale mass protest — a Tiananmen 2.0 — is almost impossible today, given the Orwellian level of surveillance. This has implications for its governance and other authoritarian governments.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
RFK Jr. unveils ‘wholesome meal' initiative for $4 cheaper than Big Mac, netizens say ‘not easy'
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the Trump administration is in discussions to expand the distribution of a 'very wholesome meal for under $5' to underprivileged communities. Kennedy's public health strategy under the Trump administration has focused heavily on the fight against ultra-processed foods. (Reuters) Kennedy's public health strategy under the Trump administration has focused heavily on the fight against ultra-processed foods. Kennedy has called these foods 'poison,' and he has stressed their significance in America's chronic disease epidemic, particularly among disadvantaged groups. It is still quite difficult to find reasonably priced, healthful food in many disadvantaged regions, which are referred to as 'food deserts.' The prevalence of diet-related diseases like diabetes is higher in these places, placing a burden on both public health systems and people. Healthy American diets are essential to Kennedy's goal of 'Make America Healthy Again.' While unveiling a new public health initiative on Monday, he has promised a move away from corporate profit incentives toward real health advances, particularly in marginalized communities. Also Read: What is the reason behind Ashley Biden's divorce from Dr Howard Krein? 'New life, new beginnings…' RFK Jr's reveals plan to provide wholesome meal Speaking to Scripps News, the US Health Secretary stated, 'We're going to launch a new rubric where we, the public health agencies, actually do public health rather than promoting the profit taking by private corporations. And there's some parts though in some underserved communities, there are food deserts where people don't have access to some of these foods. And if they do, sometimes it's too expensive.' Kennedy recognized the challenges in reaching lower socioeconomic groups, but he stressed that 'cheap food is an illusion.' 'If you say this food is cheap and you get diabetes from it, is it really cheap? We're working all over the country in food deserts,' he said. 'We're working with private corporations that are providing good meals. We looked at one company that we met with recently that can provide a very, very wholesome meal for under $5. A Big Mac costs, I think, $9 now,' Kennedy continued. 'You can get high-quality food as we change these rules to incentivize people to buy better food. You're going to see the markets respond, and you're going to see better food going into these food deserts,' he added. What we know about Big Mac meal According to McDonald's, the average cost of a Big Mac meal in the US in 2024 was approximately $9.29, whereas a Big Mac alone costs $5.29. However, costs may differ depending on where you are. According to Tasting Table, the price of a Big Mac may range from $8.69 in some places, such as New York, to less in other places. Internet reacts to RFK Jr's plan While Kennedy made no mention of the meals or the businesses that would produce them, several netizens were quick to react on his proposed plan. 'Would love to see exact details on the company and its food products. If they are actually good quality, this would be revolutionary for places around the country,' one X user wrote. 'Great idea! I wish there were grants for cooking classes and food trucks to roam the poorest streets throwing out fresh fruits for all!' another said. 'One of the most important things that needs to happen is fixing food deserts. Praying he can get this done. Not easy,' a third person stated.
Economic Times
2 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Hello, Mr Trump? Hello? Why New Delhi's outreach isn't reaching the only man who matters
'The number you've dialled is currently busy' It didn't have to come to this. India-US relations are in desperate need of Operation Salvage and a restorative touch. Donald Trump's insults and excessive tariffs on India totalling 50% are threatening to bury the relationship, a fate neither side can say that this too shall pass, and India will ride it out, but decisions made now, when tempers are high and vision is clouded, can affect the relationship for years to come. The famed friendship between Trump and Narendra Modi is already a casualty of the crisis. It's clear that Trump makes all the major decisions - be it to bend, to mend or to upend relations with other countries. He is the only one who matters, but India appears to have no effective channel to him that one can detect. It's proving to be the biggest gap in India's diplomacy. Meanwhile, Asim Munir was on his second visit to the US in less than two months, allegedly issuing nuclear threats against India and attending the farewell of the Centcom commander, Michael Kurilla, on the Delhi, clearly out of favour with Trump, is reduced to looking for a side door entry into Washington. MEA's adroit welcoming of Trump's peace-making efforts with Vladimir Putin and with Armenia and Azerbaijan was dip in relations comes against the backdrop of growing anti-India feeling within the MAGA ecosystem. Prominent MAGA voices are spewing venom against Indians on social media as job stealers, brown hordes, builders of 'pagan temples' and followers of strange-looking gods. It's ugly. Anger against H-1Bs - always present - has burst into the open. Trump's top political and immigration adviser, Stephen Miller, is leading the charge - there's little political price to pay for denigrating who think Trump will stand in the way because of economic compulsions may be in for a shock. He won't irk his base for India, especially when he feels aggrieved by Indian officials say multiple channels are at work to reach the president. But no breakthrough is discernible. The vast tech ecosystem has not been mobilised. Ditto for the diaspora and Indian-American donors, one of whom has gone public with offers of help. Asha Jadeja Motwani, one of the biggest donors with close to $2.5 mn to the Republican National Committee, who knows J D Vance and commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, has repeatedly said on X she can intervene on India's behalf. But she hasn't heard from the Indian embassy, she into Trump's inner circle should have ideally been made during the campaign and continuously broadened after he won. Assumptions that India can 'manage' Trump, depend on China hawks to keep the balance, and make tactical concessions on trade to keep Trump in good humour have proven painfully re-engagement with Pakistan came as a shock. Yes, the US has a long history with Pakistan, but the latest phase caught India unawares. Not knowing meant no preventive diplomacy and no chance for a counteroffensive. One can take refuge under the umbrella that everything about this president is crazy, all countries are suffering, and India is no exception - all true - but the fact remains that some countries have done better than some resentment against India in the aftermath of Op Sindoor has proved to be the main problem that compounds with each passing day. After the third time Trump claimed credit for the ceasefire, it should have become clear his umbrage was real and required a political touch. Perhaps it was unwise to dismiss it as 'Trump being Trump' as most of us did. Early outreach might have helped, but diplomatic wisdom ordained others have said, Modi could have called, finessed the whole thing, and acknowledged him as a 'peace president' without ceding ground on third-party mediation in Kashmir. This is not an argument for 'kissing the ring', but a call could have been used to creatively pull Trump into India's corner, thank him for 'pressuring' Pakistan into a ceasefire, and to remind him he has always been against terrorism and that peace in South Asia depends on ending cross- border that hindsight is 20/20, and no one can predict how Trump would have responded. But a more innovative approach was worth a try. Instead, Trump's capriciousness and extractive tactics, combined with India's stern diplomacy, have pushed the relationship to an uncertain place. Ignoring the personal has come at a heavy price, with Trump going the extra mile to punish India, to say nothing of the negative on both sides claim that apart from Trump, the relationship continues 'apace', citing bilateral activity as proof. Frankly, it doesn't ring true. This has been a reality check, and unless something changes dramatically, the coming three years under Trump with this level of difficulty will be hard. Riding it out with an actively hostile president in the White House? (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. As 50% US tariff looms, 6 key steps that can safeguard Indian economy As big fat Indian wedding slims to budget, Manyavar loses lustre Why are mid-cap stocks fizzling out? It's not just about Trump tariffs. The airport lounge war has begun — and DreamFolks is losing Stock Radar: UNO Minda eyeing fresh 52-week high in next few weeks; check target and stop loss for long positions Buy, Sell or Hold: Antique recommends buy on Siemens; Avendus upgrades SBI to Buy post June quarter results Stock picks of the week: 5 stocks with consistent score improvement and upside potential of up to 25% Weekly Top Picks: These stocks scored 10 on 10 on Stock Reports Plus
Time of India
5 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Opportunity to leave': Netanyahu says he 'will allow' Palestinians to exit Gaza during war; departure will be voluntary, says Bibi
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (AP image) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that his country would allow Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip as the military prepares for a broader offensive in the territory. Speaking to Israeli broadcaster i24NEWS, Netanyahu stressed that the move would not be a forced expulsion but an option for those who wish to leave. '"Give them the opportunity to leave, first of all, to leave combat zones and generally to leave the territory, if they want,' he said. The Israeli leader also referred to similar refugee outflows during the wars in Syria, Ukraine and Afghanistan. Netanyahu said Palestinians would be allowed to move within Gaza to avoid fighting and would also be permitted to leave the territory altogether. Israel has long maintained tight control over Gaza's borders, severely restricting movement in and out of the territory. The remarks come amid heightened tensions and preparations for Israel to expand its military campaign into the remaining parts of Gaza not yet under its control. The war, triggered by Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, has already displaced the vast majority of Gaza's inhabitants. Calls to resettle Gazans outside the territory have drawn sharp criticism from Palestinians and the international community. Many see such proposals as a replica of the 1948 'Nakba' or catastrophe when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were mass displaced during the creation of Israel. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Algeria Solar Panels: See How Much It Will Cost To Install Them (See Prices) Solar Panel | Search Ads Learn More Undo Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump sparked outrage by suggesting the United States should take control of Gaza and and expel its 2.4 million inhabitants to Egypt and Jordan. Netanyahu has also previously said his government was exploring third countries that could accept Gaza's residents and the territory can be redeveloped as a holiday destination. Leaders from Netanyahu's coalition have urged that Palestinians in Gaza be allowed to leave 'voluntarily.' Last week, Israel's security cabinet approved plans to extend military operations into the parts of Gaza that are not yet controlled by them.
