Historian Wang Gungwu on US credibility and why Xi thinks ‘only the party can save China’
Professor Wang Gungwu is regarded internationally as an authority on Chinese history. The 95-year-old is best known for his explorations of Chinese history in the long view, and for his writings on the Chinese diaspora. He has been a professor at the National University of Singapore since 2007 and emeritus professor at the Australian National University since 1988. He was vice-chancellor of the…
Professor Wang Gungwu, a 95-year-old authority on Chinese history, discusses the US-China rivalry and US credibility. He believes the rivalry is similar to the Cold War, but with nuclear weapons making direct conflict unlikely. Instead, strategists see proxy wars as the best option. The US has been preparing for China's rise, with some arguing economic integration would be the solution.
However, China's economic growth has surprised US analysts. Gungwu notes China's access to maritime trade, which has enabled its military expansion. He believes China will never benefit from fighting the US, but is preparing to defend itself against potential aggression. The US, meanwhile, has lost credibility with its inability to achieve goals in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In the Iranian conflict, Washington's attempts to control the Strait of Hormuz have failed, affecting global shipping. Despite these setbacks, the US remains the world's most powerful military force, with a vast number of bases, aircraft carriers, and air power spread across continents.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
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