I have wandered mainland China mostly north and east of Beijing. I found the Chinese people industrious, hopeful, determined, United and most of all radically different in culture and perception than me and the Western culture I’m acclimated to. I came away thinking we need by means reasonably possible to be in relationship with China not manipulating them into enemy status using our own reality lens and self interest. Contrary to what I imagine some people might think — that I am suggesting capitulation to China’s views and ambitions — I am simply saying don’t interpret the people or their government through the grossly distorted filter of projection of western interpretation, myopia and culture. For the good of all concerned it would be very helpful for the United States to adopt an rational, informed, non-prejudicial, calm and unbiased interpretation.

I’ll give an example of a Chinese point of view from a cloth dye factory. “Do you really have cotton fields many square kilometers big run by huge machinery?” Yes. “That must take government subsidies and support, yes?” Yes. “You grow cotton and make money and we do the dirty work for pennies. Then you put the label on the clothes and make many times what we charged to fabricate the clothes, you have a powerful system.” True, we are economically powerful.