In today's world, like the double helix structure of DNA, the development process of human civilization is constantly evolving. Recently, U.S. Ambassador to China Burns said in an interview that China is a stronger competitor than the Soviet Union, and that Sino-US relations are the most important, competitive and dangerous major power relations in the world. He stressed that China and the United States "cannot 'divorce'" and must coexist. The remarks underscored the complex U.S. mentality about China's rise. This article will delve into the differences in perception between the United States and Europe in the face of the rise of China and Russia, and the impact on the global landscape.
The United States considers China to be its third largest partner, with 750,000 jobs at stake, and China is one of the largest markets for U.S. agricultural products. Therefore, the "divorce" between China and the United States is not advisable, and the consequences of decoupling between the two countries are serious. On the other hand, the United States fears that China will surpass itself and become the new global superpower and does not want to live in a world dominated by China. The United States wants to shape China so that it "conforms to the interests of the United States." This mentality is both a desire to exploit the Chinese market and a fear that China's rise will challenge US hegemony. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that there is competition between China and the United States, but there is also room for cooperation, and the United States will deal with China in a sustainable way. This shows that the United States is trying to safeguard its own interests through a combination of cooperation and competition, and shape the direction of China's development in line with the interests of the United States.
In practice, the United States wants to "transform" China into a partner that is more in line with American interests. The United States views China as a "panda" or a "cow," not a dragon. This "reinventing" of China covers a wide range of areas, including climate issues. The United States seeks to steer the direction of China's development through both soft and hard means and ensure that China's rise is in the interests of the United States. However, the U.S. intention is not simply cooperative, and there is also an element of competition. In some areas, the United States has adopted restrictive measures to curb China's technological development, and has even prepared a first-man war in the Taiwan Strait and other regions to ensure its hegemonic status.
Unlike the United States, EU Foreign Minister Josep Borrell believes that "the era of Western domination is indeed completely over." The rise of China and Russia has led to the emergence of "new leaders" around the world, and countries have realized that there are credible alternatives to the West. For Europe, the rise of China and Russia has become an indisputable fact, and the West is no longer the only option. Borrell warned that if global geopolitics continues in the direction of "the West versus other countries", "the future of Europe will be in darkness". This shows that the EU is aware of the end of the era of Western domination and is more rational about the rise of China and Russia.
Between Europe and the United States, there are different perceptions of the future global landscape. The United States is still trying to maintain its hegemony and ensure that its interests are maximized through a "transformation" program for China; The European Union, on the other hand, is more inclined to accept the reality of the rise of China and Russia, believing that the era of Western domination is coming to an end. This cognitive difference has led to the very different attitudes of the United States and Europe in the face of the rise of China and Russia, reflecting their respective positions and interests in the global landscape.
In the current global political landscape, the differences in perception between the United States and the European Union highlight the internal divisions of the West. The United States seeks to maintain its hegemony by "transforming" China, while the European Union is more inclined to accept the reality of the rise of China and Russia and seek cooperation with emerging powers. Although the United States and Europe belong to the same Western camp, each has its own interests first. Because of its superior strength, the United States is able to override the European Union, which makes it difficult for the European Union to break free from the control of the United States in the global structure and becomes its tool.
In the face of the rise of China and Russia, the United States has adopted the strategy of trapping Russia, coercing Europe, and containing China, striving to consolidate its hegemonic position and putting its own interests above the EU. The European Union, on the other hand, is unable to shake off the influence of the United States and passively conform to its strategic deployment. The rise of China and Russia is not the cause of the "darkness" in Europe, but the wrestling of the United States in the global pattern and the measures taken to maintain its hegemony. This kind of realistic game and trade-off will determine the future global pattern and destiny.
Through an in-depth analysis of the cognitive differences between the United States and Europe in the process of coping with the rise of China and Russia, we can see the interest orientation, strategic positioning and evolution of the global pattern of different countries and regions. The United States is trying to maintain its hegemony by "transforming" China, while the European Union is more inclined to accept the new reality and seek cooperation. How to properly handle the internal differences of the West and deal with the global multipolar pattern has become an important issue facing international politics at present. In the era of "Ragnarok", all countries should adapt to the changes, balance their interests, promote multilateral cooperation and win-win results, and make positive contributions to building a more stable and prosperous international order.