2017 is the Year of the Rooster, ushered in by the Chinese New Year that we celebrate today. In Chinese astrology, Fire is also the prevailing element of the year. Thus, according to Zhao Li, director of the China Culture Centre in Sydney in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, “This year is special, full of expectation.” She described the rooster as “proud and confident, hardworking and punctual” while “fire by its very nature is the element associated with brilliance, warmth, passion, spark.” Zhao said, “A brilliant and enthusiastic rooster, combined with the salient characteristics of fire, heralds an enterprising and fruitful year, a year of results, achievements.” She concludes: “This year we can fulfill all of our dreams.”
It looks like that this is the year that China will begin fulfilling its dream to become the undisputed leader of the world. I thought this would eventually happen in a decade or two, but now it is within reach.
It is ironic that the administration of Donald J. Trump, who triumphantly shouted “America First” twice in his inauguration speech last Friday, is likely to usher in a new global order where the United States of America will become a second-rate nation. In place of America, we will see a China ascending to be the most looked up and admired among the biggest and most powerful countries, the global leader without par.
Instead of a Trump-led USA becoming great again, it will become desolate, an angry place, and not respected by both friends and enemies. In its first week, we already see the worst happening as scientists are silenced, the protection of the environment abandoned as a government priority, climate change denied, torture as a policy reinstated, rich banks favored over homeowners, health rights of women threatened, trade wars initiated, Muslims discriminated against, and immigrant and refugee rights trampled on.
Compare the terrible, pessimistic, and xenophobic inauguration speech of President Trump to that delivered by President Xi Jinping in Davos, Switzerland last Jan. 17, a few days before Trump’s oath-taking. President Xi exuded confidence, solidarity, humility, and leadership.
Quoting Charles Dickens, he described what the world was facing “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . . Today, we also live in a world of contradictions. On the one hand, with growing material wealth and advances in science and technology, human civilization has developed as never before. On the other hand, frequent regional conflicts, global challenges like terrorism and refugees, as well as poverty, unemployment and widening income gap have all added to the uncertainties of the world.”
Before these challenges, Xi said, we must not retreat. Citing Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross, he pointed out, “Our real enemy is not the neighboring country; it is hunger, poverty, ignorance, superstition and prejudice.” We need to have the vision to dissect these problems; more importantly, we need to have the courage to take actions to address them.”
Xi continued: “As a line in an old Chinese poem goes, “Honey melons hang on bitter vines; sweet dates grow on thistles and thorns.” In a philosophical sense, nothing is perfect in the world. One would fail to see the full picture if he claims something is perfect because of its merits, or if he views something as useless just because of its defects. It is true that economic globalization has created new problems, but this is no justification to write economic globalization off completely. Rather, we should adapt to and guide economic globalization, cushion its negative impact, and deliver its benefits to all countries and all nations.”
In the Davos speech, President Xi committed China “to growing an open global economy to share opportunities and interests through opening-up and achieve win-win outcomes.” Using metaphor of a storm to reject protectionism and trade wars, he encouraged faith and optimism: “One should not just retreat to the harbor when encountering a storm, for this will never get us to the other shore of the ocean. We must redouble efforts to develop global connectivity to enable all countries to achieve inter-connected growth and share prosperity. We must remain committed to developing global free trade and investment, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation through opening-up and say no to protectionism. Pursuing protectionism is like locking oneself up in a dark room. While wind and rain may be kept outside, that dark room will also block light and air. No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war.”
It’s interesting, given its notorious behavior in the South China Sea, including that portion we call the West Philippine Sea, that President Xi proposes a model of fair and equitable governance for the world: “As the Chinese saying goes, people with petty shrewdness attend to trivial matters, while people with vision attend to governance of institutions . . . Countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, are all equal members of the international community. As such, they are entitled to participate in decision-making, enjoy rights and fulfill obligations on an equal basis.”
On international commitments, including the Paris Agreement, President Xi does not mince words: “We should honor promises and abide by rules. One should not select or bend rules as he sees fit. The Paris Agreement is a hard-won achievement which is in keeping with the underlying trend of global development. All signatories should stick to it instead of walking away from it as this is a responsibility we must assume for future generations.”
In Davos, President Xi shared a Chinese adage, “Victory is ensured when people pool their strength; success is secured when people put their heads together.” He elaborated: “As long as we keep to the goal of building a community of shared future for mankind and work hand in hand to fulfill our responsibilities and overcome difficulties, we will be able to create a better world and deliver better lives for our peoples.”
Concluding his speech, Xi is both realistic and hopeful: “World history shows that the road of human civilization has never been a smooth one, and that mankind has made progress by surmounting difficulties. No difficulty, however daunting, will stop mankind from advancing. When encountering difficulties, we should not complain about ourselves, blame others, lose confidence or run away from responsibilities. We should join hands and rise to the challenge. History is created by the brave. Let us boost confidence, take actions and march arm-in-arm toward a bright future.”
I have no illusions about China. Given its recent behavior in our sea dispute with them, I am skeptical if they will walk their talk of global solidarity. Nor am I ready to write off America: I suspect that the backlash will be quick and the Republicans will lose heavily in the 2018 midterm elections and Trump will be a single term president. But for now, the odds are on China rising, beginning in this Year of the Rooster.
Happy Chinese New Year everyone! GÅng xÇ fÄ cái! (Congratulations and Prosperity) Jínián jíxiáng! (Good luck for this Rooster year).
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