Beijing • The Chinese government would like Americans to know that China has no ambitions to replace the United States as the world’s biggest superpower.
Sure, maybe the United States has turned its back on globalization. Maybe the U.S. government has said it will withdraw from a 195-country pact on climate change. Maybe it has hollowed out its diplomatic corps and retreated from the international promotion of democracy, human rights and other American values.
Likewise maybe, days before President Trump took office, Chinese President Xi Jinping gave a major speech portraying China as the world’s new champion of free trade.