The introduction to Charles Dickens’ novel A Tale of Two Cities runs: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.” Although this novel is set against the backdrop of the French Revolution over 230 years ago, these phrases could apply to many other eras, including the present day, as the global landscape created by the concurrent rise of China and decline of the United States validate their truth.

In 2013, China proposed the concept of a “community with a shared future for humanity”, with the idea of uniting nations to address complex global challenges, including energy crises, food shortages, climate change, weak economic recovery, and rampant unilateralism and protectionism. This vision aims to create a new era of lasting peace, universal security, shared prosperity, openness, inclusivity, and environmental beauty.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a practical embodiment of this vision. To date, 152 countries and 32 international organizations have joined this infrastructure, trade and technological cooperation plan, which spans Asia, Europe and Africa, encompassing diverse regions, development stages and civilizations, with participating countries accounting for more than half of the world’s GDP. More than 3,000 projects have been implemented under this initiative.

China pursues a farsighted development vision, fostering international friendships based on equality and mutual benefit. For instance, during the global COVID-19 pandemic, China provided vaccines and medical supplies to the international community, shared its experience on effective pandemic control measures, and promoted global anti-epidemic cooperation, making significant contributions to the world’s economic recovery.

Additionally, China has long supported Pacific island countries in enhancing their capacity to address public health crises and natural disasters. This includes the establishment of the China-Pacific Island Countries Reserve of Emergency Supplies in Guangzhou to help these nations tackle COVID-19, climate change, and natural disasters. China has also engaged in law enforcement cooperation with countries like the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Tonga and Papua New Guinea to strengthen regional investment security and facilitate BRI trade.

In contrast, the United States, which often touts notions of democracy, freedom and equality in the international community, employs coercive diplomacy against other nations. To maintain its financial and military dominance, the US has long stirred conflicts and instigated regional wars across the globe. The administration of President Donald Trump has further disrupted the global political and economic order by launching trade and technology wars against China, as well as a global tariff war with China as the main target.

The tariff war launched by the Trump administration violates international trade rules and is threatening to upend the global trade system and further weaken the already fragile global economy.

China’s diplomatic principles of moral persuasion, equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit, coupled with its wisdom and courage to stand up against hegemonism, have inspired many countries

Washington has also disappointed the world by conniving with Israel’s misdeeds in the Middle East, in particular tolerating the Israeli military’s atrocities against Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

Both the idea of the US taking control of Greenland (a Danish territory) and the proposal to move as many as 2 million Palestinians out of Gaza and seize and redevelop it as a US territory have shocked the world.

Policies taken to “make America great again” are ironically weakening the US’ strength and reputation, accelerating the decline of US global dominance.

Meanwhile, China is on a peaceful rise. The country has harnessed the inclusive cultural heritage of 5,000 years of socioeconomic development, blending the Confucian principles of benevolence, harmony, moral persuasion, integrity and collectivism with socialism. The resulting socialist path with Chinese characteristics has proved to work well for China, helping it lift most of its people out of poverty and illiteracy, and making it the world’s second-largest economy. The country leads globally in infrastructure, high-speed rail, electric vehicles, shipbuilding, renewable energy, environmental technology, rare earth processing, quantum communications, and space technology.

Crucially, China’s robust comprehensive national power provides it with the strength and confidence to counter the bullying tactics of the US. China’s effective countermeasures against the US’ tariff war are a testament to its national strength and resilience.

China’s diplomatic principles of moral persuasion, equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit, coupled with its wisdom and courage to stand up against hegemonism, have inspired many countries. Their willingness to join hands with China in creating a brighter future for humanity is encouraging and comforting to the global community pestered by geopolitics.

The author, a Hong Kong-based freelance writer, is an adviser to the Hong Kong Association of Media Veterans. 

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.