What the West Doesn't Get about China's Rise

In this video, I explain how you may expect a rising China to behave. I cover issues like how China looks at the world, why it flexed its muscles around Taiwan, and the anxiety of the American people (aka the West). References down below.
I appreciate constructive feedback.🤓 If you have suggestions that you think might improve the quality of my work, address my blindspots, or just interesting things for me to consider, you are welcome to write me an email:
🍵 [e-mail]
Connect with me on social media (China look & bite-sized thoughts):
Ins: / siming_lan
Twitter: / siminglan
Blog: siminglan.home.blog/
Time stamps:
[0:00] intro
[1:41] China's wordview
[4:54] Taiwan
[8:31] The West's anxiety
[12:01] Chitchat
References:
F. W. Mote (1999) Imperial China: 900-1800, Harvard University Press, pp. 614-15.
Fukuyama, Francis. “The End of History?” The National Interest no. 16 (summer 1989): 3-18, Global Fund. Results Report 2017.
Harry S. Stout, “Religion, War, and the Meaning of America,” Religion and American Culture: A Journal of Interpretation 19, no. 2 (summer 2009): 284. www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/...
Kissenger, H. (2011) On China, Penguin Press, chapter 1
Mahbubani. K. (2020) Has China Won, PublicAffairs, chapter 4
Rudd, K. (2022) The Avoidable War, PublicAffairs
Sachs, J. (2018) A New Foreign Policy: Beyond American exceptionalism, Columbia University Press
Spence, J. D. (1991) The Search for Modern China, W. W. Norton Company
America's military base map: • The End of American Ex...
Subscriber count: 856
TAGS:
China's rise, the rise of China, China-US relationship, Taiwan, Johnny Harris, Xi Jinping, Chinese history, Chinese politics, American exceptionalism, Zheng He, video essays, orientalism, Chinese society, Chinese culture, CCP, communism, socialism, socialism with Chinese characteristics, nathan rich, a hundred years of humiliation, nationalism, Chinese nationalism, social commentary, internet analysis, autocracy, ccp dictatorship, authoritarian, century of humiliation, imperial china, colonialism, modern history, mao zedong, sino-japanese war, the qing dynasty, history of china
#xijinping #taiwanchina #uschinawar

[@SimingLan]

Hello friends, Zheng He sailed in Ming dynasty, not Yuan. It was a mistake, so highlighting here :)

[@ksneoh3572]

Yes, I was about to say that

[@onisuryaman408]

While we are on the Yuan dynasty, I would like to add something. In 1292, Yuan Dynasty sent an expeditionary force to Java (now Indonesia) to subjugate Singhasari Kingdom. This kingdom refused to pay tribute to Yuan and maimed one of the emissaries. As you have said, the Chinese, or should I say Mongols (?), didn't want to lose face. The humiliation should be punished accordingly.

[@DDDrumpf]

​@@onisuryaman408 Yet, Zheng He came to Java on friendship, not to punish anyone!!!!

[@sabinereynaudsf]

I do like your videos, they are very thought provoking. Just one comment on the Jen Psaki quote. She was speaking in the context of President Biden’s threat toward ISIS-K terrorists who killed 170 Afghan civilians and 13 U.S. service members in a suicide bombing attack in Kabul. From what I understand, China punished Uyghur terrorists very harshly and they were executed. Biden has to speak that bluntly, because otherwise he will be seen as weak. I don't like it either, but it's a cultural difference. A government can choose not to discuss problems publicly, but act brutally behind closed door. Many countries have abolished the death penalty. The US and China have not.

[@DDDrumpf]

@@sabinereynaudsf Yes, exactly! There are cultural differences! Therefore it's important to understand each other and not to be so judgemental as if one is superior to the other(s)!! Peace!!!

[@wiskasIO]

I was born in Mexico, my dad is Mexican and my mom was chinese. She was born in Taiwan and until her last day she maintained that Taiwan was part of China.

[@kuenyotsou8401]

There is a bit of generational divide in Taiwan on that subject. Majority of people born after the 1980's identifies their nationality as Taiwan, people born before that have a more mixed national alignment. My father came with KMT from China, til the day he died, he still think that Taiwan should eventually re-join China. I grew up towards the end of the martial law era, and the last Chiang President died during my junior high school. I was also very much brought up to think Taiwan should eventually reunify with China, but on the condition that we unify them, not the other way around.. Obviously that kind of thinking becomes ridiculous later on, but China still hasn't given up attempt or hope to re-claim Taiwan, while at this moment, majority of Taiwanese no longer do and wants Taiwan to remain independent while not inviting an invasion, that's where majority of Taiwanese wants to maintain the status quo, and essentially kick the bucket down the road and let the future generation decide the fate of Taiwan.

[@jackyue2466]

Please continue to make more videos, they are super informative and bring in so much perspective into complex issues. Great work!

[@JP-ou6ss]

Very good video. As someone from South America, we get fed a lot of this "threat of China's rise" discourse from the pro-American media. A lot of people end up buying into it, sadly. It's great that channels like yours promote alternative views to a mostly Western audience. You gained a follower!

[@thhanh1003]

A lot of these so called lies about China are true. She omits to mention so many facts, she is almost a PR person for the CCP. Be very careful about what she says. She also compares Black Lives Matter to the possible invasion of Taiwan

[@InsightsAbroad]

Just look at how USA freaks out about Cuba

[@Florian-yn3ur]

El comunismo no ha hecho más que arruinar nuestro continente

[@horridohobbies]

"The U.S. side declared: The United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. *The United States Government does not challenge that position.* " Until now, apparently. That's why the USA has been sending official delegations to Taipei, selling arms to Taiwan, conducting naval exercises off China's coast, adding new military bases in the Philippines, and creating military pacts against China (Quad and AUKUS). The USA has demonstrated its duplicity, much to the dismay of Beijing.

[@stonetrouble5053]

I'm a 67-year-old American. In my lifetime the US has invaded other countries at least 55 times.

[@Pattyrinupi]

War, i.e. invasion, is almost always a bad idea. I have seen it from the bloody front.

[@theoracle9873]

The Devil embodied.

[@frank-ko6de]

What does that have to do with this conflict?

[@frank-ko6de]

@@theoracle9873 Perhaps, you need to work on the devils you don't know?...😶😶😶😶

[@Getcakedieyoung23]

@@frank-ko6de What could American geopolitics have to do with a geopolitical conflict? 🤔

[@connotatage1258]

At last, someone articulating the Chinese perspective in a way that an English-speaking person can understand. All power to you, I hope you save us from WW3 : )

[@douglasnakamura6753]

It all boils down to Chinese pride doesn't it.

[@eugenewindchy417]

Currently the threat of WWIII comes from China'' s aggression in the Philippines.

[@medialcanthus9681]

👍👍👍

[@francoisleung9330]

@@douglasnakamura6753 US exeptionalism is also about pride, it is spreading chaos and destruction around the world to preserve it.

[@w000w00t]

I just want to say to you and to the algorithm that I wish there were more thoughtful videos like this, from people who wish to bridge the divide by providing insightful perspectives that help rehumanize those we don't fully understand. Please keep up the great work! It's much needed...

[@baseypom6545]

hello, i'm 3rd generation chinese heritage living overseas and i totally agree with your general breakdown between china and the west. keep up the good work.

[@SimingLan]

aw thank you :)

[@theoracle9873]

Ah..so u might be another son of the Opium wars waged against the good harmless Chinese people 150 years ago.

[@BrianBaileyedtech]

And I totally disagree.

[@wattlebough]

You’d be wumao shilling for the Chinese communist party.

[@GenghisX999]

@@BrianBaileyedtech stop watching CNN.

[@arien_000]

I sort of already knew China's motivation but you explained it so well. I kind of wish though that more people have a certain level of common sense and intuition especially politicians. Got yourself a new subscriber here👍

[@tomigrgicevic]

Thank you for your videos. I discovered your channel a week ago and since watched a dozen of your videos. Your analyses are balanced and intelligent! Great job you do! I learn a lot with you.

[@ShenShen88]

Great video. I agree it's a polarizing topic. It's also a complex and deep topic. It's hard to cover all of it's subtleties in a short video. I think you did great at bringing some perspectives to the surface.

[@jessicarubios2222]

Thank you Siming. It is work like this that will help people understand and be understood, to give cooperation and peace a chance. Keep it up!❤

[@RicardodeAbreu]

Totally support your views and clear explanations. Thanks you and keep on doing more of it.

[@keeseongng685]

Absolutely Very Detailed & Thoroughly Gone Thru. The Facts & Truth Of Past & History...Well Done Well Spoken. 👏👏👏👏👏

[@andreikraus4993]

Chinezoaică frumoasă și deșteaptă! Am văzut câteva vloguri ale tale și am fost impresionat de claritatea și corectitudinea argumentelor tale! Iubesc China! Iubesc oameni ca tine!

[@pearsonfrank]

Congratulations. i enjoy your videos, analysis of China and the "western" viewpoint. I am English, as a child in Liverpool I read a pamphlet (1957) as to the Slave trade , then read up about the Opium wars and realised the reality of how my nation had progressed exploiting both its own peoples and those of the world. I became interested in China in 1971. Amazed at it's regrowth and the achievements of the people, the leadership.

[@sgtbeercanyt]

Yes the growth of the censored citizens who dont have legal access to the rest of the worlds search engines.... why do you think that might be? Literally equates to book burning.

[@smyzeqari4897]

Yes, slave labour will do that. Don't forget to study how millions upon millions died from hunger for China's development under the great leader Mao.

[@dunzhen]

@S Myzeqari Where are you from, friend? Want to bet which population is happier and more educated? China's or yours?

[@sgtbeercanyt]

@@dunzhen Likely the population that can freely critique their nation in a youtube video without potentially being prosecuted.... Or perhaps even being able to hold up a blank sheet of paper in the street....

[@dunzhen]

@@sgtbeercanyt critique their government then what? get shot and trampled? and then what changes? nothing, too corrupt. dont have the illusion your plutocracy/oligarchy is superior, that's how our media makes you complacent and deflects accountability

[@tamimkhan742]

Hey siming, really great work, you are like a professional geo politicians, i am surprised that you dont have more subscribers, i suppose you may be new in KZbin, whatever keep the good work and try to post this kinds of video every week, you will surely get popular.

[@arkturspace727]

Very interesting video. Not only this one. Will also look other ones from your channel. It is really good to learn things about China not only from our media here in Germany.

[@ryanotto2002]

Excellent, and delightfully presented! I'm a South African who has been living in China for 6 years. It has taken time to learn about the culture and people but overtime I have grown to love and appreciate what an amazing nation it is. I hope your content can reach more people in the West.

[@jasonjean2901]

There is an important, military, aspect of the Taiwan Question which you did not address. I've read that General Douglas MacArthur once explained that, if the U.S. lost control of Taiwan to the Chinese, then the U.S. military control over the Pacific Ocean becomes untenable and they would have to create a new line of control either around Hawaii, or even along the Californian coastline. The U.S. military still emphasizes this point by openly discussing how Taiwan island fits into their "first island chain", which they want to use to keep China out of the Pacific Ocean (as if they own the world's largest ocean).

[@dojdjie]

Agree and US called taiwan "Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier" in one of its report. To be honest, I pity the PEOPLE in Taiwan, they would be the first to suffer if military unification happens.

[@xiaoleiliu6639]

thanks for making these videos. I like the approach you try to find the truth from history and culture perspective. But also want to point out that it's not logic to predict how China will behave based on what it had behaved in the past. There are simply too many geographic and political factors at different times for a country/regime to interact with other countries in distinctive ways. If we look at the full history of how China geographically expanded from a limited central region to current mainland China from 3000 years ago, our ancestors conquered/assimilated/eliminated many other ethnic groups.

[@tomchen513]

If you compare what happened in Western history with what happened in China, you may question your statement "it's not logic to predict how China will behave based on what it had behaved in the past". If it is still China, it is predictable.

[@NOCOS.]

From your perspective, How do you explain the colonial practices of Western powers, the African slave trade and the genocide of indigenous peoples

[@lisashung9442]

If you look at British and American history, you’d rather kick yourself for your comments……😂……

[@denisbessette7219]

Greetings to you Siming Lan. You offer ideas I have never encountered, which give much food for thought. You make a compelling case for your point of view. Blessings of health and prosperity to you and yours.

[@afederici75]

Thank you for a very informative video once again! Keep this up and thank you for sharing your world with us! ☸

[@sulimnhertani9124]

By the way I love your videos they are informative very well done, thanks

[@dawei666]

Your videos are very thoughtful, well written and presented and you deserve a wider audience. You speak with a genuineness many others don't.

[@lokpaat]

Very well made video. Well researched. I truly enjoyed it, and agree with your point of view.

[@jiajiawen379]

Thank you so much Siming! It is rare to find someone who can explain the history and facts of China in such clear English. I'm proud of you for maintaining objectivity and letting the world hear China's true voice.

[@BerryCran420]

Omg I appreciate you so much for this video!!

[@sgtbeercanyt]

Entire video contradicts chinas current 5 year plan but hey this lady knows better.

[@smyzeqari4897]

@@sgtbeercanyt they relying upon the stereotype of the western world and particularly English speaker's don't know squat about geopolitics. This is at best a lame propaganda video

[@trekpac2]

@@sgtbeercanyt You must be American ex-military. Go figure. Looking for another war this week?

[@calvyncraven1141]

​@@sgtbeercanyt contradicts? And your source is: Trust me bro?😂

[@CALEBBYPRODUCTIONS]

Hi thanks for posting on different perspectives. I agree that China is misunderstood due to western media claims. Just one small thing I noticed, Zheng He was from the Ming Dynasty. Tink I heard Yuan dynasty earlier in the video

[@videotimebaby90]

Wow, you bring up points historical points I've been aware of, but connect the dots in a way that makes sense from China's perspective vs what ive been used to seeing here in America. Ill definitely wqtch more of your videos

[@arieldelaguila760]

Excellent historical and cultural context. Thanks for your video.

[@jamesallen5872]

Thanks for the video. I enjoyed watching it and agree with almost everything in it. There are many more things to be said about China, that I don't think Americans are aware of. I lived in Taiwan for 19 years and I became very impressed with how peaceful and cooperative people who live in Chinese culture are. I could never have lived so long without the fact that Chinese people were so helpful and supportive. When I arrived I became an English teacher (what else could I do). After about a year of teaching English, I watched a video about the freedoms and rights people have in America. I thought I need to teach my students about it. So I devised a whole lesson to illustrate democracy and freedom to help the students learn about it. I made up a long lesson providing examples of all the freedoms and rights people have in America. When I was in class giving my lesson, the students did not seem as impressed as I thought they should. One nice young lady told me "We have all those freedoms here." I thought for a minute and was shocked, she was right! All these freedoms that I thought were exclusive to the USA, were not only here too, but even better! I was always much more guarded and careful about what I said and did in the USA. The reason I felt much freer in Taiwan is not because of the government but because of Chinese culture. The Chinese culture in Taiwan provided me with more freedom and opportunity than I ever had in the USA. That is why I suggest that people should not pay very much attention to western media accounts of China.

[@SimingLan]

Thank you James for sharing :) yes, we always learn the best about the world through new experiences and conversations. appreciate the story😊

[@ponyma6304]

你是个正直的男人！

[@ziyu8061]

bro, have you ever talk these to Taiwanese? I'm sure you'll piss off most of them. As a Chinese who live in Taiwan for 4 years, I'm sure that Taiwanese are more friendly than Chinese in average. And for another reason, you are white, and Asian like white. And for “freedom”, they have, we don't have. that's clearly. their government? well, the most democratic government in Asia, more democractic than the US, according to data. If you don't believe, go to Henan or Shandong. I'm just wondering what you think what Chinese culture is. Cause it's very complicated issue, you have to read about history, politics and culture, to understand these three of China is not a easy task. After learning them you'll not Chinese culture isn't essentially "peaceful".

[@chriswhite318]

You can't compare free and democratic Taiwan to China. They may have similar cultures, but you can't say and do the same things in Beijing that you can in Taipei.

[@rumrunner8019]

Taiwan is not China. I've met plenty of Taiwanese who would punch in the face anyone who, knowing they were from Taiwan, still called them Chinese.

[@MrKingamaziah]

I love your ability to see both China and the west’s view of each other, and the reasons for each . Well done 👍

[@GiveBackAll]

This was so good. Please make more. I'm subscribing.

[@user-cp8ie2tc6x]

I’m a 90s from HK and I pretty enjoy this video. Here in HK we are experiencing the clash between PRC and the West in our daily life so I fully understand why ppl in the West might have the misunderstanding u mentioned in the video. Rational and balancing view is rare nowadays and I hope you would continue the great work. Maybe u can also talk about some of your personal background to let your audience to know more about you.😊

[@WistrelChianti]

There's nothing very rational or balanced about listing off a bunch of conflicts another country has been involved in, without context, as one down manship as compared to China who were involved in none.

[@benjiang9789]

People in the West are not stupid. They understand China quite well. They are just jealous, anxious and afraid. In a word, they do not want to see an economic giant in the East.

[@never4ever386]

⁠@@WistrelChiantiYou forget the part that most, if not all, of China’s conflicts have been that of sovereignty ie its boarders. On the other hand, the U.S. goes around invading and stroking wars the world over. Wake up!

[@barrywong4327]

I love your arguments. They make perfect sense and indeed persuasive. Love your approach, style and delivery - so free, empathetic and yet right on point. It put a smile on my face after watching this video. Thank you!

[@mohamudkhalif531]

I agree with you 100 percent. You're doing good job educating the west about China.

[@vinivini8969]

Not really. She is quite biased.

[@TJCMN]

Lmao. Not really.

[@vinivini8969]

@@TJCMN Another western-based Chinese troll?

[@zhaochengwang9742]

Any argument for your point? @@vinivini8969

[@jimmythegentconway8690]

​@@vinivini8969another anti china troll?

[@andrejohnstone8326]

Again, great video, well presented and it's good to hear an alternate perspective so sorely lacking in wider discourse here in the UK...or maybe I have just been getting my content from the wrong places...but anyway, the comment still holds, so thank you 💯👍🏽🙏🏽

[@benzhang5391]

Excellent point of argument， As 啊Chinese I always come to an argument with western friends about threat of China raise， apparently you did a great job of interpretation. We need more people like you with great ideas 🎉

[@onegirlagainsttheworld]

Your video was so refreshing. I loved learning about China from a different perspective, it has truly helped understand China a lot more as an outsider to China. Thank you for putting effort into making video like this.

[@Ariman3301]

I love seeing your videos. A very well English speaking chinese youtuber on western platform. I hope many people like you will speak up the truth about China.

[@qai4rui4]

You summarize this issue with clear concise language, giving people both sides of the issue. Well done!

[@DGG-yb6ly]

Thank you Siming. Your videos are very thoughtful！

[@heavenbright2342]

2:29 - it is Ming, not Yuan. Also, this idea that "China was #1" and "did not invade others" is very problematic. China was indeed powerful during its Four Golden Ages and powerful even during the weaker dynasties. I would just be happy by stating something like when China was powerful, it did not seek the same type of biological/race-based conquest and colonialism like European powers. Determining who is #1, #2, and #3 before modern economics is quite hard.

[@smyzeqari4897]

It's just a Chinese propaganda ministry worker doing her job bro, cut her some slack and act like we believe it

[@SimingLan]

thanks for the comment 😊

[@smyzeqari4897]

@@SimingLan any time. Please don't think that any of my other messages was directed at you personally, i have nothing bad to say about you. I prey that things go well for you and your people

[@johnyossarian9059]

@@smyzeqari4897 You called her "a Chinese propaganda ministry worker..." How is that not a personal attack? You literally tried to negate everything she said in the video by claiming it's just propaganda...

[@nazmul_khan_]

@@johnyossarian9059 anyone Chinese using KZbin via VPN (bypassing the Great Firewall) is either a dissident against CCP or a propagandist. There is no middle ground.

[@DrCryn]

Very balanced, objective and well thought explanation and insight. Thank you for this interesting topic and background description 👍

[@robinsmith9734]

Siming, as a young boy, I used to ride my bike 8 kilometers to work in a Chinese garden, supplying a town of 12,000 with food. For me, it was a natural labor. of fung shue and focus, I learned to speak some words and return the next day, before going back to school. I was 11. That was in 1954. I used to think that New Zealand Society was asleep, yes, post-war, people returning were not recognized. I kept on working. in many districts, Gold Mining was undertaken by, Chinese people, my brain ticked on. I met many and have lived with many since. your potent delivery has struck a resonant chord. Keep delivering, Namaste............

[@dineshchandralal8488]

I support you 💯 as your view is very objective, fact based and logically perfect.

[@markford202]

I’m part of your target audience. I studied History in university and took a class on the People’s Republic. I even visited China in 2017. I am also, as an American, anxious about even the possibility of war in the Pacific. You bring a lot of knowledge, experience, and perspective to the table. Keep up the good work. Xie xie

[@gianni_schicchi]

Bot.

[@Dageka]

@@gianni_schicchi bot

[@lloyd5611]

I just found your channel and I agree with most of what you say and very well made videos! 👏👏👏 I hope you make a video about china's relationship with its neighbors (especially in southeast asia) and the controversies regarding the BRI (they say predatory lending strategies). I'm a filipino living in Italy for several years now and I've always admired the chinese culture and its people. Our people have been friends long before the Spaniards colonized our archipelago and crushed our asian identity. This is why it saddens me that our people seem to have forgotten this ancient bond. It breaks my heart to see the tensions happening in the contested waters in the south china sea (or west philippine sea as it is now called in my country). Innocent filipino fishermen are shown on television being aggressively thrown out of the fishing grounds by the Chinese coast guard while huge chinese fishing vessels harvest vast amounts of fish and even endangered animals. Filipino fishermen just want to fish on waters that have been their fishing grounds for generations. Of course the tensions aren't just about the fish and it's more complex than that but it's just to illustrate the absurdness of the situation. I don't mean to point fingers and start a fight. I'm just asking, why are we doing this? The Phillipine government tried to repair ties with China under Duterte but since not much changed in how they treat us, Marcos returned to the USA's arms and now we have new philippine military bases in the north of Luzon island near Taiwan that are now available to US troops. It doesn't make any sense to me. Instead of fellowship and solidarity between asian people, we keep fighting and bickering among each other and for what? I never trusted the americans. They have always betrayed us everytime it becomes convenient for them. My people have been fooled into thinking that the americans have our best interest at heart. I wouldn't mind a chinese regional power in south east asia if China proved to be a wiser and just, but most filipinos don't feel safe and mistrust the chinese government so they cling to uncle sam's missiles for a sense of false safety. I don't know how things will go but I strongly believe that if only asians stopped bickering amongst each other and resume collaboration and cultural exchange like in ancient times, our region would prosper and even surpass the 'west'.

[@sinhuataw9019]

Hi lloyd5611 Previously and even now there are no real problems between China and the Philippines. It’s only after ‘the pivot on Asia’ policy of Obama and the need for USA to have a new enemy, surrounding China in all fronts and getting bases nearer to China, China have no choice but to claim all South China Sea before US entice Philippines, Vietnam to allow it to set up more and even nearer bases to lock up China. This point was conveniently ignored by all nations under the thumb of US.

[@ahgogo7267]

The islands in the South China Sea have always been the traditional fishing grounds for Chinese fishermen. Every year, fishermen from Hainan and Guangdong Province of China travel southward along the ocean currents to the islands in the South China Sea to catch fish and collect pearls, etc., and return back to the South China Sea along the ocean currents half a year later, and many of the islands in the South China Sea are paved with the ruins of wells and houses left by the Chinese fishermen. Other countries around the South China Sea could not take advantage of the ocean currents, and before the industrial revolution, they would at best fish on the coast, not in the middle of the South China Sea. The Philippines is the least qualified country to claim the South China Sea. The Philippine tree has been colonized for centuries, and during the colonial period, the territorial waters of the Philippines never included the islands of the South China Sea. Even when the Philippines later became a colony of the United States, its territory did not include the islands in the South China Sea. Without going into history, just the recent ones, did you know that China drew its territorial sea baseline after WWII on a US warship? If the islands in the South China Sea belong to the Philippines, then how could the US allow Chinese soldiers on US warships to claim that the islands belong to China? In 1999, the day after the U.S. bombed the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia, the Philippines beached Renai Reef with a raggedy boat, an act that was shameless. The Philippines has repeatedly promised to tow away the broken boat, but it has always gone back on its word. Do you think that China cannot tow away that broken boat? We have put up with you for a long time.

[@karmarleekl]

If China were like Western countries, they would have colonized the Philippines hundreds of years ago. Filipinos would have been exterminated and enslaved like North American Indians, Central American Indians, or Africans. The islands in the Philippines would be full of Chinese. .There will be no country called the Philippines. There will also be no island sovereignty claimed by the Philippines.

[@PadraicLey56]

Totally agreed. It is very informative and key to the point.

[@sinos8515]

Just found your channel, loved ur video. Nice content, and view point.

[@pablogoldenberg9159]

I not only agree, I also think that you explain your position very clearly and honestly. So that should help many who do not understand China and who do not take the problem to see all the parts, you do it with sincerity and sometimes it even causes you a double feeling, but I think you are correct and that helps us a lot to understand what a wonderful country that is China. I wish everyone would give themselves that research paper and be more honest. No more that sinophobia, the world is vast enough to contain different options and respect others in their idiosyncrasies. Thanks you do a great job. Congratulations! US is not the world Sheriff any more, west must iníciate to understand that the world is changing.

[@patrickdegenaar9495]

Aside from the Yuan/Ming error, it is worth pointing out that the way Zheng He sailed for glory rather than gold was his downfall. Europeans made money from their voyages, which meant they were sustainable. Zheng He did not, so the court Eunochs burnt all his ships. So it is not really an indication for China in the future.

[@karstenburger9031]

This not logical. One could have made profit of these new contacts later.

[@rexluk]

@@karstenburger9031 Europeans not only want money and also all the land with no original people.

[@karstenburger9031]

@@rexluk yes, true. But this is not limited to Europeans. Think of Tibet. Did they want to be conquered? But it was a very large country, in self chosen political isolation, very poorly defended, and in a strategic place, with large supply of natural resources. Clearly tempting to take it by force with no effort.

[@rexluk]

@@karstenburger9031 - yes but do you know how many original peoples in north South America to be killed from 1500？

[@pauln.3399]

You are too arrogant and shortsighted. China culture looks at long term relationship in business. While the western error pure capitalism short fall looks at business like the stock market, take profit and run who cares the consequences. For example the Ukraine/ Russian war, resulted in energy and food inflation. A short term 4 years cycle of winning a political election. Short term thinking generally always.

[@verophilly654]

I like all your style and explanations. Hope to see more of your videos!

[@simsc3236]

Very honest and truthful reflection . Eloquently presented. Well-done

[@simngeethiam2160]

Most succinct voice of China from a UK educated Chinese. As a South East Asia Chinese, I am impressed by the objective presentation of facts. 👍👍👍

[@davidshapcott8]

Thanks for this video. In the West, our media only gives us the American view of China. I am so glad to have seen the Chinese view of its place in the world. You have given us much to think over.

[@MrDavespade]

Your channel has educated me and shifted my perception massively!

[@jessesmith-garcia5313]

Great video Siming Lan, keep them coming!

[@genking1612]

作为海外华人，祖国有你这样的女孩儿感到骄傲，虽然我听不懂英文，用翻译软件看的。支持你加油！

[@user-mx8mj6sd5q]

看这个视频，自动翻译不管用了😂

[@Tony_Franchitti]

Do you agree with what she said that only people of Chinese descent can be Chinese? What if people agree with China’s vision and want to join them, can they hope to be integrated ?

[@bobague9654]

keep a few things in mind when considering the ideas of this video The first is that she makes no mention whatsoever of how the Taiwanese feel about their relationship with America I have stayed, add that China has, in fact, benefited more than any other society on earth from the international trade, facilitated through the postwar consensus led by America . She also does not mention the feelings of other nationalities in China’s neighborhood, particularly the Vietnamese, the South Koreans, or the Japanese to mention a few. How enthusiastic are they about the prospect of a unipolar world where China is the regional power in their neighborhood?

[@WistrelChianti]

Spot on. I hope we see comment on this from her.

[@urcompnioncube0213]

The biggest issue with people declaring how "Taiwanese feel" is that the west generally doesn't care about how they feel. They don't try to understand the nuanced politics of the DPP, KMT or their platforms. They see Taiwanese position as extremely bifurcative: "either you want reunification or independence." and leave no room for middle. Majority of the people looking in .. tend to marginalize all of Taiwan into one position .. the DPP. As for your mention of SK and Japan .. lets be brutally honest here .. they are deeply rooted with the US and their foreign policy is reliant on cooperating with the US. They are also the vanguard in facilitating most of the US anti-sino posture. Being ideological enemies of China, it is obvious they dont want China to be in any position of power.

[@Tdzzz450]

Without chips, Taiwan is fodder to the Americans. Just another chip on the chessboard like Ukraine.

[@chrislioe9853]

China does not seek a Unipolar World. Your assumption is wrong from this stand point.

[@erical237]

Extremely well spoken and thank you!!

[@millergre]

Excellent video - again!

[@Urgelt]

Speaking for myself, I am unconcerned about China's rise or America's decline. I'm much more worried about the possibility that China will become a failed state. Which would be catastrophic. Peter Zeihan's arguments are difficult for me to refute.

[@frank-ko6de]

What has China created to sustain its rise, besides its population?....🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂

[@pedrob3953]

Peter Zeihan ignores factors that don't fit his narrative.

[@Urgelt]

@@pedrob3953 he certainly does not have a monopoly on sagacity. He does make mistakes. For example, I have heard him say things about AI which are nonsensical. He does not understand recent advancements in this field. No single authority suffices to describe China or predict its future. Nevertheless, he accurately summarizes China's geopolitical and demographic vulnerabilities. His points merit our attention.

[@francis5518]

Time will tell how accurate Peter is. Let us see.

[@vicbdn]

Peter is a moron. Just look at all his wrong takes on Ukraine.

[@lktan589]

We need many more like Siming Lan who can explain clearly and convincingly to the world what China stands for. Thank you for stepping forward to fill in this very important role.

[@frank-ko6de]

She's explaining nothing while being very dishonest by omitting very important facts that can easily be confirmed by everyone.

[@RicardodeAbreu]

I totally agree, her views are awesome and we need more of that type of content on KZbin.

[@smokescreen2146]

Foreigners cannot be Chinese, but China has citizens in every country on Earth. Han Master race? Siming Lan should explain China's claim to the bases in the South China sea.

[@stevengoldfein1591]

​@@smokescreen2146she ignores the reality that the people in Taiwan are NOT Han Chinese and do not speak the same dialect much like Uyghurs. Sooner, rather than later, China is going to have to answer the difficult questions behind the origin behind the pandemic, what role the ccp's delay in notifying the who and what, if any connection all of this had with the international military games taking place around the time of the outbreak. This is why the west is divesting its manufacturing and technology from Chinese territories as a result of the actions of the government, the pandemic and outright espionage by both government and corporations loyal to the ccp.

[@saretgnasoh7351]

@@stevengoldfein1591 Too much reading western propaganda huh. No wonder you know nothing about geopolitics

[@microlinux]

Okay, I am all in with this channel perspective. Far more contemplative than many other's.

[@cristovaobarbosa4829]

Lan, I just love the way you share your thoughts and views about China.

[@observer-6501]

Time has been slapping Fukuyama's face for decades due to his arrogance about end of history. 😂

[@user-vc5qk9tg7u]

I can't believe people still refer to Fukuyama, the quack just like G0rdon Chang, these are amarikan wannabes. If their predictions is only half true, at least they could be respected, but they have all been wrong ALL the time. Gordon predicted China will collapse like every decades since 80s, U$ is so d00med with these experts.

[@jiahao485]

I think the most logical comparison between China and USA is : China is more focus on trade while the USA is more on military which nobody could argue that's a false acessment . As trade nation there's absolutely no reason to keep your customers poor or even invade but on the other hand the USA military hegemony is a diffrent story. its serve their intrest to keep their neighbour poor and corrupt that they wont pose a threat in anyway so they can move their military focus on other continent like Asia / Europe

[@global.citizens]

If that is the case, why is China spending so much on its military? why China threatens Taiwan with an invasion? why China threats its neighbirs with war, unless they complay with its demands?

[@Time4Peace]

Absolutely so. When you want to trade and invest, you want your partners to grow. When you want to exploit and dominate ove others, you want your 'targets' to be poor and weak. That's a huge difference in mindset!

[@global.citizens]

@@Time4Peace So, why China is investing so much money in the army and threat other countries to bend its will if they just want to trade? Why China's partners remained poor and debt trapped? Your answer failed to provide any reasonable explanation remaining just a baseless statement anchored in the dreamworld rather then reality

[@trogdor8942]

If that were true then why did the US make the investments it did in China? China could not have made the rise it did without foreign investment. This is not a good analogy.

[@johnyossarian9059]

@@trogdor8942 It's US corporations that invested in China. Not the US government who has always been busy waging wars around the world.

[@1313hyme]

Lol, i agreed with all the things you said! Also, you have a cute way of making your points. Way to go 👍!

[@jakobbergen7574]

Thank you for explaining your perspective. It makes sense to me.

[@SuperGlam2012]

A good video and you tried very hard to present both sides of the China issue - in the end, I remain convinced that the West cannot and won't get it with regard to China and it will be the US downfall. It's just a matter of time.

[@BuddyLee23]

It is not coming from a place of ignorance. The US is intentionally treating China as the geopolitical rival it is (just as the US is rightly seen as a geopolitical rival by China). The US was party to victory in WW1, WW2, and the Cold War, and the US is hedging its bets that it can prevail once more.

[@Pattyrinupi]

@@BuddyLee23 I feel that the US problems are in the US, and that a bipolar world could benefit all, if handled well.

[@maximipe]

​@@BuddyLee23 It's not coming from a place of ignorance but of intolerance or bigotry, the US just can't stand that a country with different and in some ways opposite views on economics, policy and ideology is raising to their level of influence in the globe so they push against China instead of just trying to coexist. As I read somewhere, the West but more specifically the US, act as modern day religious crusaders.

[@AntonMochalin]

​@@BuddyLee23If you look at the map you'll see US is quite far from China, across the largest ocean in the world, so it's not geopolitics - in fact, US' attempts to get involved with politics in Asia were clearly overstretched and harmed both US' image in the world and their internal politics - like in Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq etc. Americans are in fact just anxious about even distant threat of other country becoming more technologically advanced or politically / economically influential. Trade with China was/is actually very beneficial for American economy in so many aspects, a good portion of US economic growth for last 30 years or so would be impossible without China being ready to produce all sorts of things for cheap but for US it is very important to have that image of the leader of humanity so to speak. US is actually going to lose more than China from those recently strained relationships with China.

[@wongchanthong]

Please keep making shows like this Si Ming. Our young overseas Chinese who are heavily influenced by the west need you to wake them about themselves before they are brainwashed to hate their own mother, father and themselves.

[@grddavis]

Not brainwashed to hate. Just taught that the CCP has a lot of warts under that nice looking suit

[@metalmanexetreme]

This issue I have with this description is it not truly representative, no country is just good, and has done only good things, but to frame the country as such is disingenuous and doesn’t depict the country it depicts propaganda for an ideal. No countries hands are free of blood, and to speak if it is is either naive or deceptive.

[@DDZZ2024]

I like your video very much. You use calm language to tell powerful facts.

[@markjohnson5659]

I really like this channel because it gives a Chinese perspective on the world today. This is very helpful as the mainstream media seldom expresses this perspective. Learning about the century of humilation was very helpful. I am now an English teacher in Sweden and use your videos to give an example of some ways to work on improving at English. Good work. I look forward to your next videos. Please continue the good work.

[@dtcunningham1257]

You present an excellent argument about the hubris of American exceptionalism what gives one nation the right to project its will on the rest of the world? However, it is reasonable to conclude that there is a Chinese exceptionalism that believes it has the right to assume the sovereignty over the entirety of the South China Sea to include the territorial waters of its neighbors. An example would be the harassment of Philippine vessels by the Chines Coast Guard within Philippine territorial waters. It could be reasoned that this hubris could expand over time if left unchecked.

[@user-um7mr6de7q]

在南海的九段线并非共产党提出的，1945国民政府宣布的11段线，而且是乘坐美国军舰划定的。CCP只是继承了上一个政府的遗产。

[@antoinebguitar2869]

Very interesting video, it's nice to see the Chinese perspective, because most of the time we don't get to hear you guys, maybe because you guys use different social media platforms idk. Also I have a question for you, if China isn't all that bad after all, why do they trade with North korea, why they outsource the production of textile there? And about the Foxcon why they install net for people to not suicide? One last thing, why they 'reeducate' the Muslim community or whatever. The west say they are committing extermination of that population.

[@pearsonfrank]

You are reading uniquely anglo saxon media. It lies. Suggest you start reading, watching media from other non western sources and you'll be amazed . n.b. NOT ONE Islamic state agrees with your views as to the treatment of muslim faith adherents in China ( they live in other provinces as well) ... that should give you a clue

[@sgtbeercanyt]

None of your questions will be acknowledged because this is a propaganda video meant to shame the west..... Chinas zero covid policy in which they are locking entire apartment buildings full of people in for a week at a time , who cares? Expolited cheap labor due to 0 care for its work force who are actively suffering , who cares?

[@antoinebguitar2869]

@@pearsonfrank if I could speak Chinese or Arabic I definitely would, that's what I've always thought, the best way to get info is to watch the medias of language concerned but yeah unfortunately I haven't learn anything but English and French, so it's cool to see someone that is Chinese that can speak a language I can understand

[@dunzhen]

On your last question, it's because American trained and funded terrorists kept entering China through Xinjiang and killing locals. Extremist ideology claimed many lives, and now we see ZERO terrorism in Xinjiang as well as a rapidly rising population and standards of living there. How else should China deal with this issue? I can't think of a rosy solution. We can't earnestly believe westerners care about Muslims or Chinese, much less Muslims in China. My honest advice is to avoid anything western media says about China like the plague.

[@walking_luggage8105]

- On NOrth Korea - If China stop trading with North Korea, it wouldn't do any good, especially to the North Korean people. The west likes to use sanction, but the truth is sanctions don't work. Asians have a different way of thinking. The western thinking is "us vs them". But the Asian thinking is to be inclusive. - Foxcon is a Taiwanese company who manufacture electronics in maindland China, and they are the largest manufacturer for Apple. The profit margin of of an iPhone is 319 dollars, but Foxcon only makes 8 dollars per iphone while Apple takes all the rest. So Foxconn is sequeezed for proft and so in turn Foxconn squeezes the workers. This is why you see a lot of negative news about the poor treatment of Foxconn workers in China. But if you look at the real Chinese brands such as Huawei and Xiaomi, then you don't hear about unfair worker compensations. This is because Huawei and Xiaomi are Chinese companies and therefore unlike Foxconn they don't have foreign overloreds who take 90% of the profits from them, and so they can distribute the pie more evenly with their workers. By the way, this is all the more reason you should buy Chinese brands such as Huawei and Xiaomi, if you really care about the well being of the people in China. - If you look at the Uyghur population in Xinjian, it did not decline but in fact it has grown 10 times since 1980. In the early 2000s some Uyghurs joined radicalized Islam and they comitted a lot of terrorist attacks in the region. They hurt a lot of innocnent people. the Chinese government worked out those who are likely to become radicalized are the unemployed who don't have skills. So they built "re-education" camps and they made those people attend the camps and learn empoyable skills, so they can find a job and join the mainstream society. So in summary that is China's solution to fight against religious terrorism. I guess from the western perspective, China's policy sounds wrong becuase it forces people to attend schools against their will. But let's remember, during the period, the west's solution to fight religious terorrism was by invading the Middle East and bombed millions of Middle Eastern civilians half way to hell. Maybe there is some cultural difference between the west and China, but to me, China's solution is so much better, because it did not kill any body and it successfully helped the radical pepole to join the society. So I don't know how anyone, especially those in the west, can point a finger at China and critize its policy while the west's corresponding solution killed millions of civilians in the middle east and also created 40 million refugees. By the way of mentioning, in the USA, the average life expectancy of minority groups (such as black people and hispanics) is 45 years old. In China's Xinjiang province, the average life expectancy of Uyghurs is 72 years old. Those figures are very telling about which country is better at protecting the human rights of its ethnic minority group.

[@RichardHaney]

Thank you for showing me a different perspective.

[@alanmiceli]

I really appreciate your perspective.

[@rossross7632]

Fine research 👌 You have a natural talent. Thank you for making it understandable. Iam so pleased you also considered learning English. 😄

[@global.citizens]

Sorry, but it isn't "fine research" Far from it

[@robertmatetich2898]

Thanks for this concise overview of China's mentality. We will never understand it because we don't understand cooperation. We are all about competition, and we must win.

[@BenWeeks]

If you believe one side represents all that is good and the other all that is bad, you have been deceived by one of them. The human heart has both. Neither good nor bad belong to any group.

[@karstenburger9031]

In psychology it is called 'projection': you perceive in others what you have in yourself. You expect actions of others which you would do yourself.

[@saxmaniac6321]

Thanks 🙏🏻 Very well researched and presented! Kishore Mahbubani - one of my favourites! His ‘Has China Won’ is extraordinary 📖

[@carguy3028]

Another point the American and Chinese economies are so dependent on each other that conflict hurts both of us economically.

[@frank-ko6de]

Actually, Chinese economy is dependent on American investment. America, not such much. Hence the reason the Biden administration is quickly divesting to closer supply chain locations like Mexico. USA built China up when it allowed it into the wto.

[@gianni_schicchi]

False. China depends on stealing our IP and now that we’re pulling out more and more that’ll be a problem. They can’t even fab the latest chips.

[@xxz397]

@@frank-ko6de true, you even can not find any made-in-China products in US

[@superavel]

​@@frank-ko6de The largest source of foreign direct investment in China is from Chinese circles like Hong Kong, Taiwan or Macau. Heck even Japanese investment is higher then that of the United States in most cases. Also these are often made by business people wanting to get things done. On the other hand, China holds more than $1 trillion of the U.S. national debt and the Chinese people contribute a large amount to the American economy, Silicon Valley an the infrastructure projects of the World. Also, about half of the world's wealth in the world belong to about the top four or five richest people on earth. So NO. America didn't "built up" China. The Chinese middle class did. Heck, America didn't even "built up" America. The name behind the company and the ones getting rich may largely be American and white but everyone else contributed to the pie.

[@PictureMaker22]

Thank you for these enlightening videos. As an American, I am happy to learn more about your people and country. The more we warm up to each other as human beings, the less we will see each other as “the enemy”. I look forward to watching more of your videos.

[@nga88nguyen]

Yes let not the peple in the media turn us to enemies. We all can live in peace on this earth. Bring back globalization so we all can entangled with each other, no more war only diplomacy.

[@bellemx9357]

谢谢，I like to hear I from you in very professional and reasonable way

[@hasanwidodo5118]

thank you for very clever n clear explanation ❤

[@sarahlim5824]

Hi Shiming, thank you so much for sharing the truths on China. May God bless you with the wisdom,knowledge and understanding to continue with your good works. Please continue to share the truth. Only the truth shall set us free. Ai zugou de huajiao.

[@TJCMN]

4:12 - Korea and Vietnam which are historically and culturally distinct from China would beg to differ. Also as much as one can (validly) ask "What does it mean to be an American?" (you provided a somewhat accurate, but limited answer that downplays the same exclusivity that especially the WASP founding stock of modern America would have over Scotch-Irish, Germans, the Dutch, and later the subsequent groups to migrate to the U.S.), I'll ask in kind: "What does it mean to be a Chinese?" You omit the debate in the early 20th century within China over whether the eventual successor state of the Qing Empire should be a Han ethnostate or a more civic nationalist one, the latter of which was more-or-less the adopted model for the ROC during its Mainland Era. I assume you consider the other constituents of the "Five Races" (i.e. Tibetans, Mongolians, Uyghurs, and Manchus) as "core parts" of the Chinese state. This is the modern product of a long process of cultural assimilation and the idea that a Tibetan, Mongolian, Manchu, and/or a Uyghur would have in times past (or even many to this day) as some sort of default setting (in lack of better phrasing) have assumed the identity of being "Chinese" is at best a naive misunderstanding and at worst obfuscating the historical context of both America and China. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt since you don't outwardly come off as having bad intent, but I do think you and those who share similar sentiments are projecting. China is the last country to be critiquing America or anyone for "hubris." China still claims to this day many facets of Korean culture came from them. There are some shared features of each respective group but again like you there is a severe omission of crucial information and a tendency to lean towards the most sympathetic / advantageous view from the vantage point of Beijing.

[@kkfishrick6012]

I agree w u here, from a Vietnam point of view, we were assimilated in the past and also being invaded multiple times by China. Our country also adapted this “assimilation” approach as well and do it on local tribal groups. Probably not as extreme as China tho.

[@kembarapesara3793]

Love your explanation ❤

[@chankichun]

enjoyed your video, truly do

[@saidahmed4129]

I really enjoy your clip.. I hope the best for humanity when super power fight for domininance

[@ianhamilton3172]

Cannot believe your excellent video has only been viewed by 1.8 thousand people! It is so refreshing to gain an ‘inside’ view of what we (?) of the Western world tend to have presented as the ‘threat’ of China. I think one of the fundamental mistakes we make regarding the US is in seeing it as a benign Western power. As an old man (72) I grew up in an Australia which was a kind of ‘leftover’ from the British Empire. As a child I regarded all the countries coloured red in atlases as amazing, as they were all parts of the Empire (now the Commonwealth). Great Britain obviously built the Empire by conquest (including parts of China). The ‘empire’ of the US is different & less recognised - their empire has largely been financial: their ‘conquests’ have built around the overwhelming strength of the dollar, their domination of the IMF and the World Bank, as well a few strategically based wars. I served in the Royal Australian Navy in the Vietnam War (where China was directly involved), and it took perhaps another twenty years before I grasped how cynical the American involvement was in supporting a hugely corrupt South Vietnamese government. Often though the US has not needed to make war: the oldest (?) example is probably Cuba - the ability to strangle a country by isolating it totally financially. A more current example is perhaps Venezuela. As to Taiwan, which I have visited, I can see the validity of the points you make regarding China’s attitude - especially the supposed global acceptance of the ‘One China Policy’. I think that China has caused itself great problems in terms of successfully ever re-integrating Taiwan. The first one would be seen as their actions in regaining Hong Kong. The current situation there shows that regardless of the promises made to the then British government, Hong Kong has steadily had its rights flouted & any criticisms more & more severely dealt with. I am sure that many nations including Taiwan have viewed China’s action with alarm. The second point about Taiwan is that it is a stable, well-governed, prosperous community/economy - being (perhaps militarily) herded back ‘into the fold’ of the CCP cannot seem anything like attractive. There is also the point that Taiwan is arguably the largest producer of cutting edge micro-technology/micro-chips. China, like Russia, has managed thus far only to make clumsier versions of these technologies, mostly pirated. It is no secret that China would dearly love to possess this technology (& doubtless Russia would support this). It is just as certain that the US & many Western powers would fiercely oppose this - regardless of paying lip-service to the One China policy. The more recent Chinese incursions into the South China Sea have only hardened both Asian & Western resistance. The South China Sea is the most heavily trafficked waterway on Earth & the governments of the nations directly affected (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines) cannot allow their territorial rights to be simply usurped, any more than international trading nations can allow their ships to accept China’s ‘takeover’ of the sea, despite their claims being denied at the World Court. As a sidelight, when my ship, the guided missile destroyer HMAS Perth left the Vietnam War in 1970 we traversed the South China Sea en-route back to Australia. At the time the communist government of Indonesia decided to close the Sunda Strait. We were ordered to force a passage through the Strait. The first HMAS Perth was sunk in the Sunda Strait by the Japanese in World War II & we were told to pause during our passage to drop a wreath commemorating the first Perth. At the same time we were closed up at action stations & our orders were to force our passage & defend ourselves if we were attacked by the Indonesians. Thankfully, the swarm of Indonesian naval vessels stood to & made attempt to stop our ship. Since then, the Strait is recognised as an international waterway. I think the same thing will apply to the South China Sea - not even considering the issue of the various fishing rights of the SE Asian countries. Whatever, I applaud your videos & find they give a refreshing different outlook on China not often to be encountered in the West.

[@MB-xe8bb]

Being part of China is not seen as a step up in any way -- ask Hong Kong. No neighboring country wants to part of China.

[@AntonMochalin]

It was only 7 years ago or so when I heard the opinion expressed by people not sympathetic to China that Taiwan is going to "fall back" to China "like a ripe fruit" i.e. that China isn't going to invade Taiwan simply because Taiwan is going to be naturally reunited with China sooner or later. There was a lot of talk about South Chinese Sea but not about Taiwan even though it was already very competitive in semiconductors sector. I think Taiwan began to be discussed a lot when American people got that recent anxiety about China becoming more technologically advanced than US - and people in US remember very well how American automotive industry lost to Japan. I suspect this anxiety sharply increased when TikTok became very popular among young Americans and also when American business circles realized China is dominant in a lot of "green energy" technologies like solar panels etc. - the technologies which are discussed a lot and America is now quite used to feeling like being "the most advanced" country, the leader in the progress of humanity. The threat Americans feel in China is about public image, prestige, "soft power".

[@michael2688lim]

good reporting

[@stephenyang2844]

Very well done, Siming Lan!

[@johnjr.gaisano4529]

Hi Siming, thank you for explaining. A Chinese point of view is important to enlighten the issue as a Caucasian who took another country will find difficulty understanding considering what they have today belongs to others long before. And they maintain world influence with military power after they achieve certain degree of economic success. So the rise of China's economy is unsettling to them. It's understandable for one who grew up in such a country & experiencing world influence & power from birth, will find it difficult to accept others rising. So human that one likes to be the boss of all. Interesting human behavior.

[@normalhuman6260]

I actually agree with most of what you said. Although one of the exceptions I find to the whole sovereign issues is in regards to Tibet. Tibet was for most part of history an independent state. With only small periods of Chinese rule. Being the bridge between India and China, you can see the influence of both cultures in the people. Where even the language is written in a more of devnagri script closer to Hindi than in Han or traditional chinese script. It has both Confucian and Dharmic philosophy present in the society with the latter being the dominant one. It is very close to the practices in Ladakh (Part of Jammu and Kashmir state in India) Coming to modern history, the line that was drawn between India and Tibet was through a treaty which was mutually agreed upon and hence upon Independence of India it was kept as the international line. But upon the annexation of Tibet by China, the Chinese refused to accept it as a line that defines Internation boundry. Now this became a sore point between India and China including the war of 1962. There used to be a common saying in India called Hindi-Chini-Bhai-Bhai (Indians and Chinese are old brothers) which used to be reiterated by the then Prime Minister of India Jawahar Lal Nehru with an almost blind faith. But after China attacked India claiming the territory it became an issue that plagues to this day with a lot people blaming him for being naive for trusting China blindly. For me it is an interesting issue as where China goes wrong in righting the century of humiliation as the borders drawn were done between two states which had nothing to do with China back then. This is where expansionist approach of China becomes most blatent as - in trying to find old glory, it inflicts much pain on the present and the future. For example, Indian empires at one point extended all the way to Afghanistan and south east asia but if India started claiming such things it would be absurd. So in a world of modern governments such practices ought to be called out.

[@lynnjohnny01]

Many other parts of modern China was historically an independent country, I don't think that's the issue here. You can certainly argue that Corsica had, for the most part, historically been a political entity outside of France, but now it is undoubtedly a French province, and nobody would contest that just because historically it was not part of France until recently. Arguably the Siberian native nations, including various Uralic, Turkic, Mongolic, Tungusic peoples and others had never been under Russian rule in any point in history until the 18th and 19th century. But it makes no sense to say that Siberia isn't part of Russia. The same goes for the United States, which expanded well beyond the initial British colonies on the east coast. It is simply unproductive to claim that somehow territories outside of the original British America aren't legitimate territories of the US. We can't have any serious discussion of modern, established nation-states on that basis. We have to anchor the reality in some historical consensus. Like it or not, Tibet was most certainly under Chinese rule during the Qing period (1644 to 1911), and in fact there was Chinese troops stationed at the Indo-Tibetan border during the entire period. And the internationally recognized territory of modern China (both the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China) inherits that of Qing China, with the exception of Mongolia which became an independent country in 1921, a fact conceded by China in 1946. Even when Tibet had de facto independence from 1912 to 1950, the international community, British India included, continued to respect China's sovereignty over Tibet. And even for the entirely of the Cold War, the West continued to consider Tibet part of China. This was never challenged at any point, until the 21st century, when Tibetan separatism gains global attention and is seen by the West as a leverage against a rising China. So what do you think the Chinese would think, when all of sudden you throw out the claim that Tibet, instead being a Chinese province, is now an "occupied territory", a victim of Chinese colonialism? They would (rightly) believe it is part of western strategy to weaken and divide China. You could imagine how the Americans would react if China ever insinuates that the US has no right to rule Hawaii, California, Texas, or indeed any territory outside of the East Coast, no doubt they would decry a "CCP plot to destroy America". When you shake up the basis of modern nation-states like that, you go to very dangerous places. And to bring up the cultural claim, that Tibet is not China because Tibetan culture is different, does not work. China is not a monolithic culture, there are more than 50 native cultures recognized by the state, many of them quite distinct from each other. Even the majority "Han" ethnic group is arguably an umbrella term for several different ethnicities who are as different from each other as the Swedes from the English, or the Romanians from the French. In fact, Tibetan Buddhism was a very significant part of the Chinese culture during the Qing period, with much of the ruling class under the influence of Tibetan Buddhism, it certainly was not separate from China but an integral part of the Chinese empire.

[@josha136]

@@lynnjohnny01 I understand the points you make about how it is difficult to reshape modern nation-states. You give the great examples of Russia and France. However, I think it is difficult for Tibetans to have the feeling of being a respected minority in China if their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is not allowed in Tibet. Wouldn't it be fair to let him back into Tibet?

[@user-ym3dr5cr9n]

Not like Mongolia, China never recognized Tibet independence during that time, only Indians think that is a international line

[@NOCOS.]

We Chinese fought in Europe during the Yuan Dynasty, but we did not say that Europe belonged to China。

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niubility，你是专业的吧@@lynnjohnny01

[@johnchurch7892]

Siming Lan good information well presented and great diplomacy Thanks.

[@topweddingsa4059]

Thanks for the lecture