By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*
Why do the American ruling elites, both in the Republican and Democratic parties, oppose China so strongly? Since taking office, President Donald Trump imposed tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese goods. But it doesn’t stop at trade and tariffs. The American imperialist strategy—marked by political, economic, and military bullying—continues in an
unprecedented scale in an effort to pressure China into submission under imperialist hegemony. The core objective is to undermine China’s development and its alternative path, which challenges the foundations of the capitalist system.
What has China achieved that fundamentally challenges the very foundation of American capitalism?
One striking example is the development of a miniature nuclear battery by the Chinese company Betavolt, with support from the Chinese government. This battery boasts a lifespan of 50 years, eliminating the need for recharging in devices such as mobile phones and electric vehicles. Such a breakthrough not only renders frequent charging obsolete but also disrupts the business models of American and European electronics companies, which rely heavily on planned obsolescence—a strategy that encourages repeated consumption through short-lived products and continual upgrades. For example, Apple Inc. products like iPhones continuously changes every year.
China has not only developed its own space station and lunar exploration program but has also created an international transaction system known as the Cross-Border
Interbank Payment System (CIPS). This system has the potential to completely bypass the Western-dominated SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) network used for global banking and international transactions.
These are just a few examples of the achievements stemming from China’s scientific, political and economic system, which fundamentally contrasts with the American and European capitalist model. Unlike the Western approach, which is largely driven by profit, China's scientific and technological advancements are geared toward improving the well-being of its people and promoting sustainable development and long-term prosperity. Such alternatives pose a direct challenge to the American-led imperialist capitalist order—one that the ruling elites find deeply threatening and, therefore, unacceptable to their capitalist hegemony.
The Schumpeterian notion of capitalism as a process of “creative destruction” where innovation leads to the replacement of outdated industries by newer, more efficient ones—is, in reality, a myth. The Schumpeterian sympathy for capitalism stems from its lenient understanding of capitalist innovation. What is truly creative and innovative is labour itself. However, under capitalism, the creative potential of labour is not liberated but rather controlled and exploited to sustain and expand a profit-driven system. Capitalism continually restructures itself to either accommodate or dominate the productive and creative capacities of labour. This dynamic reinforces the strategy of planned obsolescence, accelerating the
exploitation of both nature and human beings—as producers and consumers.
Rapid technological advancement, rather than serving human progress, is often harnessed to sustain this exploitative system. The capitalist logic of planned obsolescence deliberately designs products with artificially limited lifespans, ensuring they become quickly outdated. This fuels a ‘use-and-throw’ culture—one that perpetuates constant consumption and reinforces commodity dependency. Far from promoting genuine innovation, this cycle serves to undermine it, replacing durable progress with short-term profitability.
Technological progress under American and European capitalism is primarily driven by the logic of planned obsolescence. It functions not to meet genuine human needs, but to manufacture ever-new desires for commodity-based consumption. Products and services are deliberately designed with short lifespans, encouraging constant replacement and repeat purchases—strategies rooted in corporate interests aimed at sustaining perpetual profit. This cycle not only accelerates the depletion of natural resources but also fuels consumer anxiety, particularly through the psychological pressure of the “fear of missing out.” In this way, capitalism commodifies both material goods and emotional experience, reinforcing a culture of disposability and dependency.
However, China’s scientific and economic progress is guided by a long-term vision centered on the well-being of its people—an approach fundamentally opposed to the capitalist strategy of planned obsolescence. Unlike the American and European market-led systems, which prioritise profit based on exploitation, the Chinese model places public welfare at the core of its technological and developmental agenda. This alternative model threatens the very foundations of Western capitalism by offering a path rooted in sustainability, resilience, and durability—countering the wasteful ‘use- and-throw’ culture that has emerged from capitalist cycles of consumption and planned obsolescence.
In this context, China presents not just a geopolitical rival, but a civilisational alternative—one that challenges the dominance of profit over people. It is precisely because of this that American imperialism, along with its European allies, relentlessly seeks to undermine and weaken China and its achievements. The fear is not merely rooted in economic competition, but in the example that China sets: a political model of planned economic development grounded in peace, progress, and prosperity—one that dares to envision a future beyond capitalist exploitation and its foundation in planned obsolescence.
Article summary from AI:
US political parties (Democrats & Republicans) oppose China because China’s development model threatens the capitalist system. Examples given include tariffs under Trump, China’s nuclear battery tech, space programs, and the CIPS system as alternatives to Western systems like SWIFT. The text also critiques capitalism’s planned obsolescence versus China’s focus on sustainability and public welfare. It references Schumpeter’s creative destruction, arguing that capitalism exploits labor and resources, while China offers a civilizational alternative.
Concise summary (Points)
The text argues that the strong opposition to China by U.S. ruling elites (across both parties) stems from China’s systemic challenge to Western capitalist hegemony. Key points include:
- U.S. Opposition to China’s Model: American strategies—trade wars (e.g., Trump’s tariffs), political pressure, and military posturing—aim to suppress China’s rise as an alternative to capitalism. China’s socialist model prioritizes long-term public welfare, sustainability, and equitable development, contrasting sharply with profit-driven Western capitalism.
- China’s Disruptive Innovations:
- Technology: Breakthroughs like Betavolt’s 50-year nuclear battery threaten capitalist reliance on planned obsolescence (e.g., Apple’s frequent product upgrades).
- Economic Independence: Systems like CIPS challenge Western financial dominance (e.g., SWIFT), reducing reliance on U.S.-controlled frameworks.
- Space and Science: Achievements like China’s space station and lunar programs exemplify state-led, long-term innovation.
- Critique of Capitalism:
- Planned Obsolescence: Western capitalism thrives on short-lived products to drive repeat consumption, accelerating resource depletion and consumer dependency.
- Exploitation of Labor: Schumpeter’s “creative destruction” is critiqued as a myth; capitalism exploits labor’s creativity for profit rather than liberating it.
- Environmental and Social Costs: Profit motives prioritize commodification over sustainability, fostering a wasteful “use-and-throw” culture.
- China as a Civilizational Alternative: China’s model emphasizes durable progress, public welfare, and resistance to capitalist exploitation. This poses an existential threat to Western elites, who fear losing ideological and economic dominance. The conflict is framed not just as geopolitical rivalry but as a clash between systems—capitalism’s profit-driven exploitation vs. China’s vision of equitable, sustainable development.
The text concludes that U.S. hostility reflects a fear of China’s success in offering a viable, non-capitalist path to modernity, undermining the legitimacy of Western imperialist hegemony.
*Political economist, London Metropolitan University, UK.
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