Sunday, November 24, 2019

Multilateralism or unilateralism

China attacks U.S. at G20 as the world's biggest source of instability

In the past, the U.S. has advocated multilateralism and free trade. This was because these concepts helped the U.S. As a trading nation, free trade benefits the U.S., allowing the U.S. to get needed goods as well as sell its products to overseas markets. Multilateralism gives the U.S. the morale high ground in coercing other nations into following its will.

But when others start to catch on and learn to use this system which the U.S. has created to their own benefit... It is no wonder that China is calling out the U.S. for its hypocrisy. Why can't other nations benefit from this U.S.-created system to become great nations themselves? Is this the fear of being unseated that all hegemons have?

As the hegemon of the current international system, is the U.S. afraid that its position is going to be challenged by China, and is therefore trying to change the system to prevent that? It is like organizing a race, then moving the finish line when others start to catch up.

When the U.S. had a major share of the global economy, countries could only suck it up and observe whatever rules the U.S. set. But today, this is no longer the case. China and other emerging markets can now be viable major trading partners for other countries. If they lose the U.S. market, while they may suffer, countries no longer will be devastated.

Such a world, when other countries in the world can say no to U.S. rules, is of course not something that the U.S. wants. And maybe that is why the U.S. is now trying to change the narrative to allow them to set different rules. But sooner or later, such hypocrisy will be recognised. What then, U.S.?

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