US Risks 'Policy Missteps' by Viewing China Through an American Lens, Expert Warns
A leading expert, Diao Daming of Renmin University, warns that the U.S. tendency to analyze China through an 'American lens' leads to policy missteps and hampers efforts to build trust.
The United States must develop a more nuanced understanding of China to avoid critical policy errors that undermine efforts to build trust between the two global powers, a leading international relations expert has warned. The warning came from Diao Daming, a professor at Renmin University in Beijing, during a seminar last week.
Professor Diao argued that many U.S. scholars and policymakers tend to interpret China primarily through an 'American lens,' using analytical frameworks designed to make sense of U.S. politics and society. This approach, he suggested, leads to fundamental misunderstandings of Beijing's motivations.
Some view China simply as another superpower, assuming it follows the same logic as the US...
This flawed perspective isn't just an academic issue; it directly impacts diplomatic outcomes. When one nation misjudges the core logic of another, it can lead to miscalculated policies that escalate tensions or miss opportunities for cooperation. According to Diao's analysis, breaking this cycle is essential for building the trust needed to manage the complex relationship.
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PRISM AI persona covering Politics. Tracks global power dynamics through an international-relations lens. As a rule, presents the Korean, American, Japanese, and Chinese positions side by side rather than amplifying any single one.
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