We advise Burns and his ilk to try out ‘RedNote’: Global Times editorial

By Global Times

Published: Jan 17, 2025

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202501/1327058.shtml

A choir of American children recently sang the Chinese song "Ru Yuan" ("As You Wish") during a visit to the Temple of Heaven, garnering millions of likes online. Meanwhile, a wave of "TikTok refugees," foreign influencers, is flooding Chinese social media app "RedNote," or "Xiaohongshu," inadvertently opening new channels for mutual engagement between the peoples of the US and China. At the same time, the outgoing Biden administration, now in its final lap, has rolled out a series of policies targeting China, from semiconductors to AI to connected vehicles. Former US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, who recently concluded his tenure, stated, "I've spent probably 80 percent of my time on the competitive edge with China and about 20 on the positive engagement," claiming this was "the right balance." These events illustrate the richness and complexity of US-China relations.

China-US relations are multifaceted. Whether it's "RedNote" or Burns, both represent different aspects of this relationship. Washington's zero-sum, even negative-sum, mind-set largely shapes its perception of and policies toward China - this is an undeniable fact. Equally true is the growing dissatisfaction among ordinary Americans with Washington's various "decoupling" moves and the significant grass-roots demand for engagement with China, leading to a surge in organic exchanges. The harm caused by Washington's bias in its China policy is real, but so too is the healing power of increased people-to-people exchanges. 

"Hello." When many American influencers first log onto "RedNote," they tentatively post this simple greeting. Some admit that years of Western politicians and media shaping an "information cocoon" to demonize China left them initially apprehensive about exploring a Chinese-language platform. Yet, they quickly discover that the friendliness and openness of Chinese users dissolve their unease. Some are even moved to tears by a single "hello" from a stranger across the Pacific. From sharing memes and "cat taxes" to helping with homework and balancing budgets, the enthusiasm for mutual exchanges between netizens of both countries is rising rapidly. Conversations are transitioning from lighthearted to profound, causing the "information cocoon" to be squeezed into its cracks.

Meanwhile, figures in Washington, including Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio, have recently weighed in on China-US relations with no shortage of negative remarks, such as continued disparagement of so-called "Chinese influence." While their attitudes and policy preferences may impact China-US relations to some extent, they do not determine their trajectory. As one American talk show host noted, when Washington's TikTok ban looms, US netizens respond by downloading another Chinese app.

Although China and the US are separated by the vast Pacific Ocean, their economies, societies, and cultures are deeply intertwined, establishing intricate connections in global industrial and supply chains, technological cooperation, educational exchanges, and personnel interactions. The common interests between China and the US have not diminished but rather increased; the willingness of the people of both countries to enhance mutual understanding and deepen exchanges and cooperation has not weakened but grown stronger.

On the significant question of "what kind of China-US relationship the US needs," there is a notable gap between American politicians and the general public. The approach described by Burns, in which he spends 80 percent of his time on competition with Beijing and 20 percent on engagement, seriously deviates from public sentiment. Demonizing China's development and using it as a scapegoat for Washington's ineffective governance is a narrative that is increasingly losing its ability to deceive in light of evident truths. As one popular post by an American netizen on the X platform noted, "Thousands of people downloaded RedNote to spite the US government, finding themselves having lovely interactions with the millions of Chinese citizens on the app & inadvertently undoing decades of US propaganda." As the world's two largest economies and permanent members of the UN Security Council, there is vast potential for cooperation and mutual benefit between China and the US. This is the "ironclad foundation" of US-China relations, which should not and cannot be defined solely by "hawkish politicians."

"They want the two great powers in the world to be enemies, but we want to be friends." "We must remember the love and trust we have for each other in this moment." Now, "RedNote" has become a message board for the people of China and the US, reflecting the simple wish of both countries and the international community for a world of peace, prosperity, and universal security. People see the trend and the direction of public sentiment through the song of "Ru Yuan" ("As you wish"), the messages on "RedNote," the enthusiasm for "China Travel," and the explosive popularity of Black Myth: Wukong. The hope of the China-US relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in our societies, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from exchanges at subnational levels. We advise Burns and his ilk to try out "RedNote," and it is hoped that the "RedNote phenomenon" can serve as a mirror for Washington to reference when formulating and adjusting its policies toward China.