Modernization is not equal to Westernization

Editor's note: China has made remarkable achievements in socioeconomic development in the 75 years since the founding of the People's Republic, realizing the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and beginning a new journey toward achieving the goal of building a modern socialist country in all respects. Three experts share their views on the issue with China Daily.

All emerging powers have to craft their foreign policy lexicon to explain their national objectives. This has become a prerequisite in the face of rising expectations from their interlocutors and competitors alike, for they have to make sense of emerging powers' future trajectories and policy priorities. For instance, 19th century Great Britain projected itself as the "balancer" amid European countries' power struggles and as a "global benefactor" by using the "white man's burden" theory to explain its colonial expansion worldwide.

As a 20th century superpower, the United States initially opted to remain "isolationist" — an impulse that keeps showing up in its policies even today. Despite being a reluctant participant in the two world wars, it finally chose to "lead the world" through its network of military alliances, international institutions and in the name of spreading "democracy" and free-market economy.