China is Not Our Enemy

Fred S. Teng, President, America China Public Affairs Institute & Member of CODEPINK China is Not Our Enemy

In recent years, a troubling narrative has gained momentum in the United States: that China is America’s foremost adversary, a threat to our way of life, and a rival to be contained. This view—once a fringe perspective—has now become a bipartisan rallying cry. Tariffs, sanctions, technological restrictions, and political hostility are increasingly justified not on strategic grounds, but on the assumption that confrontation with China is inevitable.

But is it? Does China truly seek to undermine the United States, dominate the world, or overturn the global order? The facts suggest otherwise. China is not our enemy. It is a rising nation pursuing its own development, security, and prosperity—just as any country would. The choice to turn this into a zero-sum contest lies not in Beijing, but in Washington.

A Vision of Rejuvenation, Not Domination

At the heart of China's national trajectory is the goal of national rejuvenation—a long-standing aspiration to restore dignity, prosperity, and global respect after a century of foreign humiliation, civil war, and poverty. This goal is not built on ideology or expansionism, but on a desire to provide a better life for the Chinese people.

Over the past four decades, China has lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty, modernized its infrastructure, and emerged as a global center of manufacturing, innovation, and trade. Its achievements are not about challenging the United States—they are about ensuring national stability and fulfilling the basic aspirations of its people.

China’s development model is not perfect, nor is it universally applicable. But it is not being exported or imposed on others. Beijing does not seek to remake the world in its image; it seeks recognition as a legitimate and respected voice in global affairs.

Respect for Sovereignty and Regional Solutions

Much of the current U.S. anxiety about China centers on the issues of Taiwan and the South China Sea. But these are regional matters, best addressed by the parties directly involved.

Taiwan is a Chinese internal affair—a complex, historic issue rooted in the legacy of civil war. It is up to people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to find a peaceful resolution and pursue their own path toward eventual reunification. Outside interference only complicates this delicate process and raises the risk of misunderstanding.

Similarly, disputes in the South China Sea should not be viewed through the lens of great power competition. China has already successfully resolved land border disputes with 12 of its 14 neighbors. It is fully capable of working out maritime differences with ASEAN countries through dialogue, negotiation, and regional diplomacy. These are not global flashpoints, but regional challenges that require patience—not provocation.

A Multipolar World, not a Confrontation

China does not seek to replace the United States as a global hegemon. Instead, it advocates for a multipolar world, a more balanced international order where power and responsibility are shared, and where countries large and small have a voice.

This includes strengthening institutions like the United Nations, the G20, the BRICS group, and the Belt and Road Initiative. It also means reforming outdated systems to better reflect today’s global realities, especially the aspirations of the Global South.

China’s emphasis on sovereignty, mutual respect, and non-interference is not a rejection of global cooperation. It is a call for partnership based on equality, not hierarchy.

No Dialogue Without Mutual Respect

A growing obstacle to U.S.-China relations is not ideological difference or economic friction—but rhetoric. When the United States labels China as an adversary, competitor, or threat, it closes the door to genuine engagement. China has made clear—repeatedly and consistently—that it cannot engage in meaningful strategic dialogue or deep cooperation with a country that fundamentally questions its legitimacy or seeks to contain its rise.

Diplomacy cannot function in an atmosphere of hostility. The principle of mutual respect is not a diplomatic formality—it is the foundation for any productive relationship. No country, including China, will cooperate with a partner that speaks of containment while asking for collaboration.

If the United States truly wants dialogue, it must first change the tone—recognizing China as a sovereign nation with its own path and interests, not an adversary to be managed or a rival to be defeated.

The Danger of a Manufactured Rivalry

Framing China as America’s enemy may serve short-term political agendas, but it is generating long-term harm. It distorts policy, erodes trust, and fuels hostility across society. The rise in so-called “anti-Asian hate” is, in reality, anti-China and anti-Chinese hate. U.S. politicians—who fan the flames of anti-China sentiment—often hide behind the vague term “Asian” to avoid accountability for the discrimination they enable.

This isn’t just political rhetoric—it has real and devastating consequences: assaults on Chinese Americans, suspicion toward students and scholars, and targeted scrutiny of Chinese businesses. Worse still, baseless investigations have been launched against Chinese American government employees, research scientists, and university professors—resulting in cruelty and lasting harm to individuals and their families. Careers have been destroyed, communities have been shaken, and a chilling climate of fear has taken root.

This fear does not stop at the Chinese American community—it infects our universities, our laboratories, our public discourse, and our democratic values. It damages the United States itself, undercutting our claim to fairness, pluralism, and openness—the very ideals we say we defend.

Meanwhile, academic exchange programs are being dismantled, visas are being denied, and scientific partnerships are being broken—all in the name of national security. Economic decoupling is disrupting global supply chains and hurting workers and consumers on both sides. We are drifting toward confrontation not by necessity, but by political design.

More importantly, this artificial rivalry blinds us to shared global challenges. Climate change, public health, food security, and responsible technological governance require cooperation—not confrontation. If the U.S. and China cannot work together on these existential issues, the world will be the one that suffers.

A Call for Clarity—and for Courage

The United States faces a choice: to continue down the path of rivalry, distrust, and escalation—or to step back and reimagine its relationship with China based on realism, mutual respect, and shared responsibility.

We don’t need to agree on everything. But we do need to understand China as it is. China is not a threat just because it is different. It is a sovereign nation with its own history, priorities, and global role to play.

If America insists on treating China as an enemy, it will eventually create the enemy it fears. But if we choose a path of respect, diplomacy, and coexistence, we may still shape a future of peace, prosperity, and shared progress.

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Fred Teng is President of America China Public Affairs Institute, and the Chairman of Partnership for Peace and Prosperity. He is an active member of CODEPINK’s China is Not Our Enemy Campaign.