Zheng Yongnian is a leading Chinese political scientist and government adviser, with a focus on the country’s transformation and foreign relations. In his third interview for the Open Questions series, Zheng discusses the “Donroe Doctrine” and its implications for the existing world order – and an emerging one. For other interviews in the series, click here.
On Venezuela, you have noted that the US pivot to Latin America could reshape the regional order and that Donald Trump’s warnings to other countries could lead to profound structural changes. How do you assess those changes, and what could they mean for China?
His approach consists of two main points.
The first is consolidating the US sphere of influence in the western hemisphere. He views the presence of other nations, like China and Russia, as a national security threat. However, I don’t think he can or intends to completely seal off the hemisphere from all other countries. We shouldn’t take it to extremes.
The second is offshore balancing.
While strategic contraction has been discussed since the [former US president Barack] Obama era, it has never been truly executed. I think Trump is capable. As a businessman, he is action-oriented and tends to follow through on what he says. His strategic focus, Maga, is domestic-centric with attention to the periphery and the “backyard” – moving from the Monroe Doctrine to what he calls the “Donroe Doctrine”.
Europe, Taiwan, Asia, Confucianism, Monroe Doctrine, Agricultural products, Russia, Trump, China, Argentina, Latin America, East Asia, South China Sea, Belt and Road Initiative, China-US relations#Exclusive #Zheng #Yongnian #Trump #Venezuela #China #doesnt #separate #kitchen1768169243
Agricultural products
Argentina
Asia
Belt and Road Initiative
China
China-US relations
Confucianism
Doesnt
East Asia
Europe
Exclusive
kitchen
Latin America
Monroe Doctrine
Russia
separate
South China Sea
Taiwan
Trump
Venezuela
Yongnian
Zheng
