Only peace builds (The example of China)

In an article published by Newsweek magazine, a significant conversation between former President Jimmy Carter and Donald Trump was revealed, centered on China's rise as a global superpower. According to information available from various media sources, in an interview, Carter conveyed to Trump his perspective on why China has managed to surpass the United States in several aspects, with the key lying in its approach to peace and development.
 
Jimmy Carter, who normalized diplomatic relations between the United States and China in 1979, shared with Trump his observations about China's strategy. Since the normalization of relations with Beijing, Carter highlighted that China has not been involved in any war. This absence of military conflict has allowed China to invest massively in non-military areas, unlike the United States, whose history has been marked by numerous conflicts.
 
Carter argued: "Since 1979, do you know how many times China has gone to war with someone? Not once, while we are constantly at war. The United States is the most warlike nation in the history of the world, because it wants to impose states that respond to our government and American values throughout the West, controlling companies that have access to energy resources in other countries."
 
Investment in progress
 
Carter emphasized that this peace has allowed China to focus its resources on economic and social development projects:
Infrastructure: China has invested in railways, infrastructure, intercontinental and transoceanic bullet trains.
Technology: Development of 6G technology, robotic intelligence.
Education and Health: Universities, hospitals, significantly improving the quality of life for its population.
Economy: Unlike military spending that consumes resources in the United States, China has used its funds to stimulate its economy, allowing it to surpass the U.S. in several technological and economic areas.
 
Carter suggested that if the United States had invested the same amounts of money in domestic infrastructure rather than in military conflicts, the country might have seen similar benefits like high-speed bullet trains, non-collapsing bridges, better-maintained roads, and an education system comparable to that of South Korea or Shanghai.
 
This conversation between Carter and Trump took place in a context where trade tensions between the United States and China were at a peak. According to some sources, Trump seemed concerned about how "China is getting ahead of us," to which Carter responded with a reflection on China's development strategy based on peace and investment in the well-being of its people.
 
Carter's message might have influenced Trump's strategy towards China, especially considering that, according to reports, Trump praised Carter's letter as "beautiful" and their phone conversation as "very good." However, Trump's actual policies towards China also included tariffs and the continuation of a trade war aimed at rebalancing trade, indicating a more complex and often confrontational approach.
 
The exchange between Carter and Trump illustrates a historical and strategic perspective on how peace and investment in national development can be the foundation for global power in the 21st century. While China has shown that focusing on internal development rather than military expansion can lead to economic superpower status, the United States faces the challenge of balancing its foreign policies with investments in its own development and social well-being.
 
Carter's message to Trump not only highlights the differences between the two nations but also invites reflection on how future U.S. policies could benefit from a more peace and domestically-focused approach, and should serve as a reflection for all political leaders worldwide.
 
Note: This conversation between Jimmy Carter and Donald Trump took place on Saturday, April 13, 2019, and Jimmy Carter made it public the following day during his Sunday school lesson on April 14, 2019, later reported by Newsweek magazine.
 

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