It’s time the West genuinely accepted China’s global ascent

In 1996, the bestselling China Can Say No, co-authored by a group of intellectuals, reflected a nascent rejection of worship of the West and a rise in Chinese nationalism.

Thirty years on, China is not just saying “no” to the West, it possesses the strategic leverage to hit back, underpinned by its dominance in global supply chains, rare earth minerals and critical green technologies. China’s confidence is perhaps most evident in its rebuttals and forceful countermeasures against Western claims and sanctions.

When the United States first targeted Chinese tech giants like Huawei and TikTok and imposed export controls on advanced semiconductors, Beijing’s pushback was largely rhetorical. This has changed significantly.

This realisation has been accompanied by a shift in Western engagement with China. In recent months, there has been a parade of Western leaders visiting Beijing, showing their concern about missing out on opportunities within the world’s second-largest economy.