BIG IDEA | ‘Historically speaking, it seems the only way for the US government to make costly public investments was to create an adversary that is presumed to threaten its security.’

‘If there's no such enemy, make one. China appears to have become an ideal candidate in the eyes of Washington.’

essay published in Chinese & English

This essay is representative of Chinese comments on the Biden 'American Jobs Plan.' Like some of the English-language reporting, it portrays the Biden argument as countering China. It is not.

'As the US government unveils a $2 trillion infrastructure plan, President Joe Biden said that the US must put itself "in a position to win the global competition with China." ’

• ‘At a press briefing on April 6, a White House spokesperson again stressed the importance of competing with China, saying it had support from both parties and the American people.’

‘ "It's a once-in-a generation investment in America," said Biden of the infrastructure plan.’

• ‘It's rational for a new US administration to focus on infrastructure and try to revive the economy and boost employment at the beginning of its term.’
• ‘However, sadly, it just could not leave China out of their internal discussions.'
• ‘It is becoming a perpetual mindset among US politicians to use China as a catch-all guise, whether they're proposing or opposing something.’

‘Historically speaking, it seems the only way for the US government to make costly public investments was to create an adversary that is presumed to threaten its security.’

• ‘In the 1950s and 1960s, when the US built interstate highways and launched the space program, it chose the Soviet Union as its "perfect enemy." ’

‘If there's no such enemy, make one.’

• ‘China appears to have become an ideal candidate in the eyes of Washington.’

‘However, making up imaginary enemies, from another perspective, has forecasted the futile outcome of Biden's plan, just like those of his two predecessors.’

• ‘Even the most anti-China politicians and media outlets know clearly that China is not the Soviet Union and not an enemy that poses threats to the security of the US, but a strong competitor economically.’

‘The logic of using competition with China as a reason to increase taxes to enhance infrastructure is as farfetched as a student asking for a sports car so he/she can get better grades.’