What role can Europe play in the context of the Sino-US conflict?
As the competition between China and the United States intensifies, what role can Europe play in this storm? This question has always haunted the minds of international relations. In the modern international system, power is changing, showing a clear trend of polarization. First, the balance of power between the United States and China is narrowing, while the gap between China and other major powers is gradually widening. Will this trend lead to a polarization of the international system? Waltz's argument provides a framework for interpretation, but we need to delve into how each factor plays out. Now let's unravel the puzzle.
The narrowing of the power gap between China and the United States is the focus of much attention in the contemporary international system. Although China's economy is growing at an alarming rate, there is still a gap compared to the United States. At purchasing power parity (PPP), China has surpassed the United States, but the United States still dominates in terms of nominal gross domestic product (GDP). However, China is closing that gap at an alarming rate, with its GDP now at 64% of that of the United States. This dynamic change in the balance of power has given rise to deep thinking about the future direction of the international system.
At the same time, the power gap between China and other major powers vying for first-class status is gradually widening. Over the past few years, China has overtaken other great powers that may occupy a high position. This comparative advantage has increased significantly in the economic and military fields, making China a force to be reckoned with in international affairs. However, does this mean that the international system is moving towards polarization? This requires us to look more deeply at the distribution of power between China and other great powers.
Waltz proposed that we can measure the power of states and their distribution in the international system by evaluating the scores of large powers in terms of population, territorial size, resource endowment, economic capacity, military power, political stability, etc. However, this requires more in-depth study, and we focus primarily on the distribution of economic and military power. By comparing China with other major powers, we may be able to get a clearer picture of whether the international system is moving in a bipolar direction.
However, it is important to note that the EU, as a non-state actor, cannot be considered a pole in the international system. Nonetheless, the EU and other institutions and institutions are deeply influenced by polarization. The origin, consolidation, and expansion of European integration have been largely influenced by the bipolar system of the past, the superpower rivalry of the Cold War era, and the unipolar system of the post-Cold War period. Thus, the rise and transfer of power in the new US-China bipolar system is likely to shape a new direction for the EU and European countries in the 21st century.
China's economic rise has attracted widespread attention from the international community. Although China has not yet surpassed the United States, its share in the international system has increased significantly, and its economic and military power has become in the first echelon. This raises questions about whether the international system is becoming polarized. However, the widening power gap between the two top powers and the third power in history is an important driving force for the evolution of the international system from multipolarity to bipolarity.
In the face of this trend, the international community needs to think deeply. First, we need to recognize that change in the international system is a complex and multifactorial process. Second, while China's rise is a clear trend, the performance of other countries cannot be ignored either. European countries still play an important role in global affairs, and their strength in the economic, scientific, technological, and cultural fields is still not to be underestimated.
So, how should we respond to this change? First, the international community should abandon the binary thinking of the past and avoid overemphasizing bipolar competition. Second, countries should strengthen cooperation to jointly address global challenges and promote a more just and equitable international system. Finally, we need to understand each country's unique contribution to international affairs and work together to build a multipolar international system.
In general, the development of the international system is an intricate process that cannot be defined simply by polarization. While China's rise has attracted attention, other countries also play an important role. We should move beyond a single model of the international system and promote a more pluralistic and inclusive international order to meet future global challenges. This requires all countries to work together, abandon outdated thinking, and embrace the opportunities and challenges of the new era.