Wu Guangqiang jw368@163.com WHEN humanity embraced the first ray of sunshine on the first day of 2020, no one expected that the world would change beyond recognition in a mere year. In this sense, we are all witnesses to the history. The unexpected outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has initially transformed the world economically, politically and socially. Moreover, it will fundamentally reshape the world in the post-pandemic era. A new world is taking shape in terms of geopolitics and the systems of world governance. Yet it is not the pandemic itself that is changing the course of history; it only serves as a catalyst for change. Instead, it is the inherent flaws and failures of the current world systems and the corrupt and unjust Western world domination that have brought about this realignment of the world order. Until one year ago, the world seemed to have been running all right on the orbit that had formed since the end of World War II, with the U.S. dominating every aspect as the biggest power. Under the glorious “universal values” such as democracy, human rights, rule of law, freedom, much of the world was convinced that once a nation embarked on the path of Western-style development, growth and prosperity would fall in place along with secured freedom and dignity for the people. Yet the impersonal virus revealed the cruel truth: the U.S.-led Western world is much more vulnerable to the attack of a massive pandemic due to its outdated and ineffective crisis response mechanism based on a system serving the interests of a handful of elites instead of the majority of the population. A look at how America has handled the pandemic has smashed the myth of its greatness. From the very onset of the virus, not a single day has been passed in America without grotesque performances. The world is agape and aghast at the incapability of the superpower at combating the virus. The pandemic has not only sickened tens of millions and killed hundreds of thousands of Americans and devastated American economy, but is inflicting permanent damages to the nation as well. The deep political division among the public and the violence storming of the Capitol have debunked its hypocritical image as the world’s leader in democracy. Though Donald Trump has left the White House, leaving the once-greatest country in shambles, his toxic heritage will haunt the country for many years to come. History will mark the year of 2020 as the end of the America-dominated era and the beginning of the era of a multipolarized world. Like it or not, in the post-pandemic era, China will rise swiftly with its exceptional performance in anti-pandemic combat and its fast-growing comprehensive strength. The West can no longer shrug off the fact that China possesses an institutional superiority over the Western system characterized by a multiparty system, one person one vote, and unchecked capitalism. Unless a profound reform is carried out in the West, America and its followers will have a bleak future. Sadly, not any signs of positive changes are in sight. Many Western politicians and their narrow-minded media are still sticking to their anti-China mindset, vowing to form a worldwide “democratic front” to confront China. This bunch of fossils from the Cold War era should have been dumped into historical rubbish heap. If Trump spent four year trying his utmost to suppress China only to see China get stronger and himself fail in humiliation, any of his followers should be wise enough not to repeat the same mistake. China has no intention to seek hegemony as America does. But China has the inalienable right to achieve its lofty goals of national reunification and rejuvenation. I strongly advise Washington and its followers to focus on remedying their own illnesses rather than further attempt to antagonize China. They should recognize the end of the age of “might is right” and accept China’s rise and learn to live with a powerful and peaceful China. A generation which ignores history has no past or future. (The author is an English tutor and freelance writer.) | 