Josephine Ma

My Take | Can America and China both become great again without clashing?

Xi Jinping and Donald Trump’s visions share some similarities, but the latter’s goals need not make Beijing’s worst nightmares come true

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Xi Jinping and Donald Trump’s agendas have some similarities. Photo: AP

Josephine Ma

Published: 7:30pm, 12 Nov 2024

In his victory speech last week, Donald Trump said some people told him that God had given him the chance to fix the country and fulfil his pledge to make America great again.

This is a slogan he had used in his two previous campaigns but it was given an even more prominent position during this year’s presidential election.

The vision shares some similarities with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vision of China’s great rejuvenation, although their methods and policies are very different.

This does not necessarily mean the two great powers must clash when achieving their visions although some theorists have cited the so-called Thucydides Trap – an argument based on the writings of the 5th century BC Greek historian that says a rising power will inevitably come into conflict with an established one.

One must look at how the two leaders define the successes of their goals.

There are several key elements to Xi’s great rejuvenation vision, sometimes described by state media as the Chinese dream, the most important of which is strong Communist Party rule. But it also includes an economically and militarily strong country which justifies that rule.