Chinese philosophy is antidote to Trump Doctrine

By Thomas Guenole /Department of Research, Studies and International News 26-03-2025

The Trump Doctrine, which has sent shock waves through the international community, is not a new phenomenon. Rather, it represents a resurgence of 19th-century imperialist traditions in the United States, echoing the theory of Manifest Destiny and the Monroe Doctrine. At its core, the Trump Doctrine seeks to maximize US’ national interest with little regard for diplomatic niceties. Its focus on securing resources, controlling strategic trade routes, and even contemplating territorial expansion — evidenced by the peculiar remark on seizing control of Greenland — harks back to an era of brutal power politics.

Indeed, the Donald Trump administration’s preferred method of engagement is the blunt instrument of power politics. It has wielded the threat of trade wars and military action with alarming frequency, eschewing the cooperative approach.

This strategy, however, is not without its perils. The imposition of tariffs on imports from China and Europe risks triggering a contraction in global trade, potentially precipitating a worldwide economic downturn. Moreover, Washington’s steadfast commitment to fossil fuels threatens to exacerbate climate change, with its attendant catastrophic consequences. By consistently favoring unilateralism, the US under Trump is pushing the world toward a neo-19th century paradigm. This new world order is characterized by incessant conflict and dominated by unbridled competition.

In this geopolitical landscape, China emerges as the sole power capable of challenging US brutality. As the world’s second-largest economy and leading in technological innovation, China is uniquely positioned to offer an alternative to the Trump Doctrine. However, China faces a significant hurdle: the persistent ignorance of Western elites regarding Chinese culture. Sadly, many remain ensnared by the antiquated and racist “yellow peril” myth, viewing China primarily through the lens of threat and danger.

Contrary to Western perceptions, dies an ideal of harmony that profoundly influences Chinese foreign policy. While not ignoring the realities of power, China seeks to extend its influence through cultural soft power and trade expansion rather than military might. This strong preference for harmony explains why, from a Chinese perspective, the use of force is seen as a failure. The truly efficient strategist, according to China’s ancient philosopher Guiguzi’s School of Diplomacy, achieves victory without resorting to violence — a mentality almost incomprehensible from the US viewpoint, which tends to glorify brute force.

China’s alternative vision for global order is already manifested in initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the BRICS program for an alternative reserve currency, and the New Development Bank. These endeavors aim to construct a multipolar world order based on harmony amid diversity. In the face of Trumpian protectionism and unilateralism, China has the opportunity — and perhaps the duty — to champion major cooperative multilateral initiatives, particularly in addressing global challenges such as climate change.

In this context, fostering Sino-European convergence on key issues could prove crucial. This is why China must counter Western misunderstandings by redoubling its soft power efforts in Europe. While the expansion of China Global Television Network and Confucius Institutes represents progress, the establishment of a European network of think tanks that can look at China rationally and fairly could more effectively introduce the idea of a tianxia world into European public discourse.

The Chinese concept of wuwei — “inexertion” or “effortless action”, as a state of harmony and free-flowing, spontaneous creative manifestation that naturally lead to positive and desirable outcomes — suggests an approach of receptivity to opportunities rather than forceful imposition of will. As the world grapples with the implications of a second Trump term, with its attendant risks and opportunities, China may find this moment ideal for practicing wuwei on the global stage.

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Thomas Guenole :  The author is a political scientist, professor of international relations at Paris campus of Schiller International University in France.

Source: China Daily