The Road to Sustainable Coexistence of China, the USA, and the EU

Abstract

Green China challenges the West in every aspect. At first sight, the greening of China looks like the adoption of sustainability principles. Looking closer, sustainability has been chosen by the Chinese as a lead issue. Contrary to the West, sustainability has not primarily been chosen because of creating a better world. Sustainability is the core theme because it represents the next long-term growth curve enabling the Chinese to emulate the West in the field of technology and economic power. But the long-term strategic aims of China are a challenge for China itself as well. It is not a matter of time till China will be indeed the number one super power of the world. Therefore, a tri-Star world consisting of China, the USA and the EU is possible. But all three have to work very hard to stay on an equal level. Therefore, Green China is not about ecology but about the real motive of becoming number one and its accompanying behavior. Chinese green is not identical to Western green washing but a natural disguise of the dragon. A dragon should be green. But modern dragons can change colors and show flexible behavior which make them dangerous but not unbeatable. At least, this is the effect we want to achieve with our book title. Western readers expect a book about ecology or sustainability in which environmental issues are central. Chinese readers know about the different color shades in their society. There is always another shade which represents the real motives and aims.