Back in March 2022, I was having a coffee with Bill, a very good friend, in Birmingham Chinatown. Given our shared interests around China, we started discussing our concerns at the mostly negative press on China from Western media. Bill then proposed that we write a book to promote better understanding by exploring the differences between China and the West. The outline of ‘Thinking About China and the West’ was drawn that day.
We are very different people, Bill and I, and we brought different perceptions to our thoughts.
I identify myself as British Malaysian Chinese. I grew up in Malaysia, after the 1969 race riots, when ‘Muhibbah’ (goodwill and intercultural harmony between races) and ‘Gotong Royong’ (mutual co-operation) were greatly promoted. Hence, I developed a conviction that differences between cultures when brought together can be transformed into positive forces for change.
Bill is British (with Irish and Scottish background). As an industrialist, he has through his work in various UK companies, traded with China. Bill is therefore very interested in the importance of China to the world’s economy and of its deep-rooted culture. He has a deep love for Chinese people and believes strongly that the West should try to understand China more, its history, philosophy and governing systems.
As individuals and society, we will tend to believe and act in certain ways according to the values, attitudes and the propaganda we are subjected to in our society. However, there are strengths and weaknesses in every culture and we should acknowledge each other’s humanity.
Currently, due to geo-politics, there is a lot of negative news about China in the West, at times demonisation and war mongering. It is important that we see through or at least question any disinformation from both sides.
It is critically important that we have an open debate around how the West can and should respond to the rise of China, for a sustainable future for us in the West, for China and for every other country on our planet.
‘Thinking About China and the West’ consists of 4 parts:
The first part of book looks at how history has shaped the way the West and East developed.
The second part explores some of the differences in philosophy, value and culture between the two.
The third part comments on how differences in values are reflected in notions of the state, governance and economic development.
The fourth and final part are concluding thoughts on how we hope the relationship between China and the West might develop in coming years.
Our aim for the book is to encourage dialogue around how the West can and should respond to the rise of China, for a sustainable future for all of us — in the West, for China and for every other country on our planet.
Hopefully, China and the West (and other emerging powers in the global south) can find ways to peacefully co-exist through co-building multilateral mechanisms, and not destroy each other through fear, mistrust and desire for global domination.
