The bravado and bellicose proclamations made by China when launching Made in China 2025 appears to have created problems for it. The central government told state media to minimize references to MIC25. At a 2018 reception in Washington, China’s US ambassador offered, “China has no intention to challenge the international standing and interests of any other country or the existing international order and system.” Of course, the statement was received with some skepticism.
Reaction from world powers, especially the United States, has impacted China’s strategic communications. President’s Trump’s 2017 National Security Strategy accused China of using “economic inducements…and implied military threats to persuade other states to heed its political and security agenda.” As a result, many senior Chinese officials now believe China did itself a disservice by displaying its ambition so openly. China appears to have returned to the adage of its former leader Deng Xiao Ping: “Hide your strength; bide your time.”
Clearly China has no interest in backing down. It now has the second largest military budget in the world. It is developing new weapon systems including nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, and stealth fighters. Its Belt and Road initiative is building infrastructure all over the world, especially in developing countries. And it has forged new trade alliances on a regional level. The Obama Administration sought to curb China’s influence through its own regional trade deals (the Trans-Pacific Partnership) and standing tall on the international stage by leading in areas such as climate change. The Trump Administration has chosen to withdraw from the international stage, effectively dulling one of the best tools it had available to check China’s influence.
China is growing the four leadership power sources, whether or not it announces it. Made in China 2025 calls for economic development in key industries. It is expanding its military through budgets and new development. It already has a huge and growing population. And it is extending foreign reach through its Belt and Road Initiative. What changed is not its ambition, only the way it communicates it.
Reference:
Amanda Erickson “China’s new message for the U.S.: We’re not that great” Washington Post, 19 Aug 2018, A16; also available from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/china-has-a-new-message-for-the-us-dont-be-alarmed-were-not-that-great/2018/08/15/bc51cde2-9fe4-11e8-b562-1db4209bd992_story.html
David Nakamura, “Trump focuses his ire on China,” Washington Post, 19 Aug 2018, A1.
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