Rejecting Western powers' clique-building is in the long-term interests of all countries: China Daily editorial

As anticipated, many Western media outlets have cast in a threatening light the pro-peace, pro-development and pro-cooperation speech the top Chinese leader delivered at the gathering to mark the centenary of the Communist Party of China on Thursday.

That is consistent with the Red menace stereotype they, and some Western governments, are trying to project, even though what they are truly concerned about is the rise of China ending their global dominance.

That concern stems, on the one hand, from their self-consciousness about their colonial histories and the crimes they committed, including genocide and slavery. While, on the other hand, their zero-sum mentality was reinforced by the Cold War and they have been reluctant to move with the times.

That's why some Western countries are going to great lengths to try and separate China — as well as some other countries that do not meet with their approval — from the rest of the world by attempting to form cliques excluding them.

Such divisions and confrontation threaten world peace and development. A divided world cannot address the common challenges humanity faces. A confrontational world will only bring disaster to all. And as Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi pointed out at the Ninth World Peace Forum in Beijing on Saturday, any attempts to turn back the clock will be to no avail.

While being persuaded, if not pressed, by some Western powers to join their anti-China "value alliance" under the excuse of defending a "rule-based" international order, countries have every reason to ask what values and rules they are being asked to endorse. Just because they claim to be "democracies" does not entitle Western countries to try and impose their wills on others, and being developed means bigger responsibilities to give rather than to take.

The new type of international relations has to be based solely on the United Nations Charter featuring mutual respect, fairness and justice, and cooperation and win-win results, as Wang noted.

China takes a clear-cut stand against interventionism, hegemony and unilateralism, and regards fighting them its obligation to defend world peace and stability.

Countries should realize that China is not just upholding these for itself but for the common interests of the whole world, particularly the less-developed countries, and so those Western powers are entreating them to stand on the wrong side of history.