Wang Yi's claim that "China will not and cannot become another America" clearly intends to appeal to those on the left, many of whom have long held the view that US foreign policies are based on illiberal hegemony and imperialist mentality.

However, in this case, it is delusional to take Wang's words seriously. Politically, China has mostly been left alone in its own way, as reflected by how the West has engaged with China in the past 30 years. So why a sudden rush of "imperialist impetus" now? Some may argue that this is because of Trump, but just turning around and taking a quick look at all other countries in the Five Eyes as well as at China's neighbors proves that such an argument is flawed.

The West is standing up to China because it is crucial for self-preservation. Those on the left need to be reminded that whatever rights they enjoy and whatever activism they preach and practice are, first and foremost, founded on the very fact that they live in a society with civil liberties. And those civil liberties are not to be taken for granted--something they are fully aware of when it comes to Trump, but is conveniently ignored elsewhere.