Victor Gao offers a staunch defense of China’s development model and foreign policy, positioning it as a pragmatic and stabilizing force in an increasingly multipolar world. Contrasting China’s infrastructure-focused outreach with what he sees as the West’s history of neglect or exploitation, Gao frames China’s engagement in Africa, Latin America, and Asia as a non-colonial, sovereignty-respecting alternative rooted in mutual development. He dismisses criticisms—such as claims of resource extraction in Zimbabwe or coercive diplomacy—as either hypocritical or unfounded, emphasizing that “development is the hard truth.” Gao also articulates China’s broader philosophical stance: democracy and human rights must be contextually grounded and balanced with obligations. He criticizes Western liberal universality, especially when paired with military and financial coercion.
On Taiwan, Tibet, and Xinjiang, Gao asserts non-negotiable national unity, drawing a controversial parallel to Lincoln’s Civil War rationale. He positions BRICS as a megatrend affirming global sovereignty and warns against weaponizing the U.S. dollar or SWIFT system. Ultimately, Gao champions China’s rise as peaceful and inclusive, urging others to engage without imposition or ideological arrogance. Source: East Asia Rise
