Memes

Because China isn't imperialist, it isn't dominated by finance capital and isn't super-exploiting the global south. Imperialism isn't a policy preference, it's what happens when capitalism reaches its domestic limits. China doesn't have the same economic forces that push the US Empire into imperialism.

China does gain international credibility from these mutual cooperation projects, sure, but since they are mutually beneficial that isn't a bad thing. Further, Trump still exerts soft power, it wasn't because it was "woke" but because it's expensive and imperialism is declining. The US Empire is pivoting towards hard power now that US soft power is dying.