China will pursue two contradictory goals in 2024, which are (1) to rally a bloc of countries skeptical of an American-dominated world order and (2) to present itself as a defender of global unity. While pursuing the first goal, Chinese leaders will accuse America and its allies of stoking a new cold war and erecting protectionist barriers to free trade. In service of their second goal, they will call China an upholder of the status quo and supporter of WTO rules that opened rich-world markets to China after its accession in 2001. However, these twin messages may blur at times when Chinese leaders offer cooperation on global goods, only if America and allies stop hostile acts such as condemning Chinese actions.
Read this story from "The Economist" for free without being tracked.
#ChinaGoals2024 #RallyingSkepticalCountries #PresentingDefenderOfGlobalUnity #AccusingAmericaAndAllies #ErectingProtectionistBarriers #OpenMarketsToChina #CooperationOnGlobalGoods