How would you answer this, and how would you expect Chinese netizens on Xiaohongshu to answer?

I will link to the thread in the comments because I want you to take a moment and think about it first.

  • Stovetop@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    I would like to hope no one nation is the future. Replacing one global hegemony with another is not my idea of progress.

      • anon6789@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        Oh my, I can’t even begin to imagine what a Texan or Creole Welsh accent would sound like if that was the international language! 😵‍💫

        • tetris11@lemmy.ml
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          3 months ago

          *sneezes* *snorts* *coughs* *clears throat* *yodelays*

          I’m sorry, what was your question

      • Stovetop@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        In one sense, as a key component of the UK, they already had that chance somewhere between the years of 1600-ish to 1945-ish.

        • tetris11@lemmy.ml
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          3 months ago

          Heh, I think you’ve just pissed off Welsh/Irish/Scottish people with that sentiment.

  • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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    3 months ago

    I think it’s pretty clear that despite Trump’s attempts to revitalize US manufacturing, the US won’t be able to outpace China’s industrial growth even if they hard pivot. China is, like it or not, almost certainly the next Global Hegemon as the US’ grip on the world is falling. Western Europe won’t be able to oppose it either.

    I think Chinese citizens are generally hopeful for their country, but more than anything I think most of their citizens would want everyone to advance. I don’t think any doubt that China will surpass the US.

  • Taalnazi@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

    No thanks, replacing one imperialist for another won’t help the world.

      • OBJECTION!@lemmy.mlOP
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        3 months ago

        Tbh, I was shocked. Much as I’m sympathetic towards China, but I still usually look at it through a lens of realpolitik, like, “Of course they’re vying for dominance like everyone else, but at least they’re doing it through economic development instead of wars, and it’s better if there are two major powers instead of one.” Maybe that cynical perspective is more realistic, and maybe XHS users aren’t a representative sample of all Chinese people, but still, the fact that so many of the replies were so hopeful and internationalist was genuinely moving to me.

        • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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          3 months ago

          Well, you’re correct that XHS isn’t the general population of China, it skews middle-high income, so you aren’t getting the full picture. However, from what I’ve read from many younger Chinese political activists and analysts is that as China is now heavily industrialized, there is a sense of moving out of the over-ambitious optimism of the previous generations to a more grounded, educated, realistic optimism that is genuinely more hopeful as a consequence of its grounding.

          China has libs. China has problems. China has struggles. But, by virtue of its position and strategy, the people also take on a generally internationalist character. “Let a hundred flowers bloom,” Socialism with Chinese Characteristics is a prediction, more than a description. It’s a prediction of Socialism with Ugandan Characteristics, Canadian, Brazilian, etc. That gives a sense of their overall attitude, IMO.

          • OBJECTION!@lemmy.mlOP
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            3 months ago

            As much as we might criticize the whole, “End of History” idea, I feel like the 90’s was the last time Americans had anything like that kind of optimism. There was a feeling that we were entering a new age of international cooperation, and although I was only a child that was something I really believed in. But we soon found new conflicts to be embroiled in a the dream has died and was proven to be foolish and naive, and now everyone across the political spectrum is highly cynical.

            I’m sure that there are many cynical people in China too, but I can hardly remember the last time I saw someone who wasn’t cynical when it comes to politics. Whether or not it’s naive, it hits me on an emotional level.

            • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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              3 months ago

              The good thing about China is that they have a lot of reason to be hopeful, due to many massive improvements in the last century, skyrocketing in the last decade. USians largely still envision 90s China, and are having that image shattered.

    • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
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      3 months ago

      It would be a good idea to learn a bit, I think, considering that they will play an increasingly large role on the global stage.

  • OlgaAbi@lemmy.ml
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    3 months ago

    I mean china is an authoritarian state, that kinda thing never works for long