The West needs to drop the savior complex and get used to it. The 21st century isn’t yours to dictate anymore.

https://x.com/jambuki888/status/2074722500416839827

Larry 長祥

@jambuki888

Westerners still ask the same question like it’s clever: “Does the rest of the world actually want to be like China? No democracy, repressive on speech and human rights?” They’re looking at the 21st century with 19th and 20th century glasses. The assumption is that 1.4 billion Chinese must be suffering under some evil CCP. Black-and-white thinking that doesn’t fit reality anymore. China’s going to build its own system. It might not match the Western model — and that’s fine by them. When China was weak and divided, nobody was exporting human rights or democracy to them. The British forced opium on China in exchange for tea. Western powers seized territory, set up settlements, and burned the Summer Palace. It remains now unrestored as a permanent reminder of history for Chinese to never be blinded by hubris again. Now the same voices show up acting as saviors: “Don’t you want a better government? What’s wrong with you?” The condescension is unreal says Kishore. China will choose its own path. It may not be perfect in Western eyes, but it’s theirs. Unlike America, they don’t pretend their civilization is a universal model the whole world must copy. They do what works for China. You do what works for you. They’re not exporting their system to anyone. No threat. No need to feel insecure about China succeeding on its own terms. The West needs to drop the savior complex and get used to it. The 21st century isn’t yours to dictate anymore. Paraphrasing Kishore Mahbubani answering questions about China in 2020.

3:09 PM · Jul 8, 2026

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https://x.com/jambuki888/status/2074722500416839827