Faulty ideology, not China, threatens the West

The "China threat" theory is not new. Its recent resurgence reflects the growing anxiety in the West over China's peaceful rise in a fast-changing world.

This week, some US National Security Council officials urged the Donald Trump administration to centralize 5G mobile network to "counter the threat of China spying on phone calls", inviting opposition from US communications regulators, wireless companies and many lawmakers.

Earlier last month, some Australian politicians criticized China for providing loans to Pacific island countries on unfavorable terms, yet they were strongly rebuked by officials from those very island countries. Other Western countries such as Germany, France and Italy are also trying to more strictly scrutinize investments from China.