The endless analyses, even very informed and well-argued ones, on the Chinese role in the world fail to find a complex synthesis.
We intend to argue that the approach to the Chinese reality is still ‘cold war’. Western democracies would have the opportunity, beyond trade, economic and cultural interchanges, to rethink their relations with the Dragon.
In the planetary context we are living, being antagonistic to China, or wanting to break away from it, is ridiculous as well as extremely dangerous. The season of mutual provocations must make way for a new season of strategic dialogues.
We will study the stages of diplomacy between China and the rest of the world but, on closer inspection, what is missing today is the ‘complex path’ that allows us not to consider the West and China enemies but strategic competitors.
If China works to be an increasingly important global player, this cannot happen in a G-zero world. Given the substantial historical inability of global fora to impact on the great challenges that are sweeping the planet (with, in the background, the nuclear threat), not to seek dialogue with China is completely anti-historical. This must be done, without forgetting sensitive issues such as the guarantee of human rights and the governance of the internet and cyber processes, on a few points that really make a difference: technological research, the challenges of climate change, water and food crises, global health, horizons of outer space and new planetary architectures (we suggest … glocal) for peace and security in the future that is already present.
The world needs China and vice versa. Finding and sharing mediations and geostrategic visions as much as possible is increasingly necessary. The common goal must be the ‘political sustainability’ of the world.
