Philosophies that Separate Two Worlds

Chinese philosophy embraces a holistic perspective, viewing the world as a cohesive whole rather than disparate parts. It posits that despite the existence of contradictions, harmony prevails, with seemingly opposite elements interrelated, interdependent and complementing each other. Humanity is perceived not as isolated individuals but as a collective, wherein success hinges on collaborative efforts. Central to this worldview is the pursuit of unity, balance and harmony, eschewing conflict escalation and adversary elimination. (See Understanding China: Yellow River and the Character of the Chinese Nation.)

Advocating humanism and collectivism, Chinese philosophy prioritizes the interests of humanity and society as a whole over individual concerns, and values social harmony grounded in public morality. In this context, human rights extend beyond individual entitlements to include the collective well-being, focusing on peaceful coexistence and a secure living condition for all, free from injustice, inequality, exploitation, and crime. Chinese law protects personal freedoms within legal boundaries, including the right to pursue wealth, while placing restrictions on special interests to safeguard the interests of all people.

Economically, China promotes common prosperity. It adopts a mixed model that incorporates state-owned enterprises, private businesses, and market mechanisms. This system harnesses individual initiative while balancing the interests of both the successful and the general population, blending market-driven growth with social equality. The state maintains oversight of capital to prevent it from infringing on the interests of society as a whole.

Politically, China emphasizes the role of the state in fostering unity, managing differences, protecting the vulnerable, providing infrastructure, and promoting the common good. It champions national unity and democratic centralism, rejecting decentralization and partisanship. China's democracy is described as a "people's democracy," prioritizing consensus building through consultation rather than divisive partisan politics, and "whole-process democracy," ensuring people's participation from policy making to implementation. Political decisions are made through thorough investigation and deliberation with the public, and are implemented under the supervision of the people. By avoiding partisan fights, Chinese politics operates without catering to special interests, aiming to build an egalitarian and harmonious society and guide the people toward shared prosperity.

In international relations, China adheres to five guiding principles: mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-aggression, non-interference in internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. It advocates for international cooperation, peaceful development, global common prosperity, and the creation of a community with a shared future for humanity.

In contrast, Western thought is characterized by atomism, which deconstructs the world into discrete entities and posits that these entities compete for self-interest. Western individualism views human beings as independent actors with conflicting interests, subscribing to the Darwinian concepts of the "struggle for existence" and "survival of the fittest" that embrace a "law of the jungle" mentality, wherein the suppression or elimination of opponents is seen as necessary to safeguard one's own interests. (See Darwinism and Eastern Philosophies.) Western culture prioritizes self-reliance, individual achievement, and personal success. People often focus more on their own needs and strategies than on moral considerations and collective well-being. This version of human rights is highly deceptive. While ostensibly promoting freedom for all, it in fact only serves a privileged minority, allowing them to exploit competitive advantages to defeat the disadvantaged majority, thereby controlling legislation, the economy, media, military affairs, and foreign policy to benefit themselves. The result is that the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and for most people, freedom has become an empty word.

Economically, Western ideology champions self-interest, private ownership, capitalism, and competition, advocating a neoliberal economy that is driven entirely by the market. While this individualistic, profit-driven, cutthroat, and winner-take-all approach may spur initial economic growth, it fosters greed, exacerbates inequality and social injustice, allows capital to dominate national interests to serve only the privileged few, and ultimately leads to economic hollowing out and failure. (See America Is in Big Trouble.)

Politically, Western elites employ Machiavellian tactics and engage in partisan fights, fostering social fragmentation, division, conflicts and polarization. Western democracy is merely a formal form of democracy, driven by partisan interests, sensationalism, empty promises and ideological nonsense. Politicians funded by special interests work primarily for their donors rather than for the people, leaving the general populace with little influence on what matters to them other than casting their vote every four years. (See Democracy vs. Plutocracy.)

In international relations, Western elites adopt strategies of divide and conquer geopolitics, promote hegemonism, and engage in zero-sum games. These approaches disrupt global equilibrium, provoke conflicts, and sow turmoil worldwide. The success of the West historically hinges on the conquest, colonization, genocide, exploitation, and plunder of weaker nations.

For a considerable period, the Chinese struggled to comprehend Western behaviors, yet they have now come to understand its underlying logic. Unless Western plutocrats alter their philosophical outlook, global peace remains elusive. This sentiment was succinctly expressed by the Chinese delegation during the Sino-US talks in Alaska: "We overestimated you and assumed you would adhere to basic diplomatic norms. We must clarify our stance: You lack the authority to assert dominance over China." Despite the potential calamitous consequences of their worldview, Western plutocrats are unlikely to relinquish it. It may require the collapse of the existing paradigm before humanity can aspire to construct a new world.

Fortunately, which of the two philosophies can lead to a brighter future for mankind is becoming increasingly evident. Humanity is amidst unprecedented global transformations. The ascent of China and the decline of the West have given countries in the Global South new hope, allowing them to glimpse a possible new world order characterized by civilized values, peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, equality, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation, in contrast to the current landscape of self-interest, inequality, bullying, plunder, aggression and war. (See Pluralism vs. Monism.)