China is without any doubt one of the world's most important powers. Relations between China and its neighbors, and with the United States, are growing increasingly tense because they are having difficulty adjusting to China's rise.

China can't "hide its brightness," just like an elephant can't hide behind a tree. The more Beijing says that it can, the more it breeds mistrust. Yes, Third World countries should be allowed to prioritize "peaceful development." And Beijing's advocacy of this concept has been a useful counterweight to the West's aggressive BS human rights diplomacy. Beijing maintains that it adheres to a policy of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, because otherwise it won't be able to fight back when the West interferes in China's domestic affairs. But Beijing should not stop eating for fear of choking. Western countries' interference inside China doesn't go beyond talking -- China is now a large power, not a small one, and it has enough methods and resources to fight back.

Moreover, even if Beijing advocates non-interference in other countries' domestic affairs, Western countries will continue to criticize China over human rights and other issues. China, therefore, should interfere in other countries' internal affairs: expressing concern when they severely violate human rights, and using its influence to push for improvement -- but not pushing for regime change like the West does. This would create a new, better image for China -- that although Beijing cares about human rights, it won't use human rights as an excuse to mask other interests.

Chinese Communist Party Chairman Xi Jinping has recently spoken of a "Chinese Dream: the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation". Beijing can make that an important part of its international public diplomacy.

By raton (Australia)

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