When Trump went to China, “America first” blindness v. visionary Xi

China has a long-term strategic vision, while the U.S. no longer has one. Should Washington’s goal be to unite Asian countries, particularly its democracies, to counterbalance China? Or should it instead cozy up to China in order to share with Beijing the burden of the world’s responsibilities?…

Partner, rival, adversary: It seems Washington is incapable of choosing among these different possibilities. The worst part is that Trump’s America even seems incapable of conceptualizing the options available…

China, on the contrary, has a strategic vision which is not “China First,” though this form of nationalism naturally exists, but “China Number One.” It’s not content being just the biggest Asian power. That goal has already been achieved. It now wants to be the world’s singular leader, to overtake the U.S. economically, militarily — there’s a still a long way to go on that front — but also, and perhaps most importantly, in terms of civilization and culture.

While America’s democracy is in a downward spiral, China no longer has any inferiority complex regarding the Western world. “Why should I learn from you?” it seems to be saying. “From now on, you must learn from me, economically and financially since 2007-2008, politically since 2017 and this new U.S. President took office.”