The “China Decoded” session yesterday at Wintercircus Ghent was an eye opener; I have been focussed on the West for so long that I hadn’t fully grasped how much I still need to understand about the East. This conclusion was shared between the panelists: It is not a matter of “when”; China is already here and we’d better learn how to work with them because they can live without us.
China has
– changed enormously in the last 20 years, with massive economic growth.
– a project called “New Quality Productive Forces” where they will move from low cost production to innovation & high-value manufacturing (i.e. coming right for our industry).
– a ongoing trauma from the “century of humiliation” that makes it focus on (military) power.
– a key partnership with Africa & the global south where China does not lecture them on e.g. human rights.
– no need for Europe (but still wants to do business)
We, Europe, need to decide how to play in this world: surrender, resist or adapt. “Radical reciprocity” seems to be the way forward, e.g. if they protect their market, we should do too.
Dorien Emmers voiced it perfectly: “By better understanding China we can conquer our fear and see the opportunities”. Because fear of the unknown is real, we don’t have enough students even interested in studying there (I guess the language barrier is real too).
Thank you Pascal Coppens, Jun Jiang and Dorien Emmers for sharing your insights; and of course Tom Van de Weghe who brought together true experts, each with their own angle.
And now I’m off to read Tom’s book (Terug naar China) and after that Pascal’s book (China’s Next Miracle).
