I am from Taiwan, and I have never lived in mainland China. So I can only estimate from what I read from Chinese sources.
I believe people at the decision level in China are clear-eyed about America. They are fully cognizant of America’s capabilities and potential, which is significant and nontrivial. As to the general Chinese public, one can never rule out a segment of it being giddy with China’s economic success and thus underestimating the challenge it is facing from the West.
On the flip side, I can relate my own experience with impression of China. My background has disposed me for a long time to underestimate China, thinking it would be a long time before it can be in a position on equal footing with the West. I’m sure many in the West were equally disposed.
It was only in the last two decades that I realized that I have severely underestimated the capability of China. It is now squarely in the position as the other alternative to America. I am not sure if this realization was shared by most in the West. From what I see and hear, maybe not. But that’s fine too.
Note Added 10/08/2024
I noticed there are quite a few responses to my post with a message like “But America has 11 aircraft carriers. Take note of that”, or “Bring it on! Shoot first and see who will stand last”. Such despicable and barbaric mindset is exactly what is giving America a bad name and, if anything, will help diminish America’s standing in today’s global atmosphere.
While I know these people are representative of only a small segment of the most base, reprehensible and uneducated part of America, I take pity in their ignorance in trying so hard to work against their delusional notion of what would make America really great. It is like watching kindergartners thumping their chests at each other in a pissing match, a sad thing to behold.
I am a democracy-prone mainland Chinese. Well educated in China. Western people may think my mind was already polluted by the education system but in fact it was not.
Two points from me, for friends from western people and Taiwanese who checked here out.
- China (from governments to civiliance) never underestimated the US. In fact, China always learns from the US, respects all the efforts the US made. Many government officers sent their childen to the US for live/education. China may underestimates other countries but never did/does so to the US. Or, in another word, The US is the only country/competitor who was/is still repected by China.
- But, the US did many “surprises” to China including myself the democracy-prone people when Trump was elected 8 years ago. China was trained by the US for Free Trading, but Trump administratrion stopped it, and Democrates didn’t correct its consiquence. The world had a very well organized semiconductor industry – the US was in charge of technology and China/the other countries were for production. And now the US stopped this system and reminded China “China you don’t have your own technology”. There was no underestimating, there was/is only a Zero Sum game which is not China’s willingness but the US insists to play.
The US destroyed her reputation by her own hands, not an underestimation from someone else.
