In a 2025 interview with China Media Group, renowned diplomat Kishore Mahbubani analyzed the psychological and geopolitical roots of persistent Western misinterpretations of China. The former Singaporean UN ambassador emphasized that two centuries of unchallenged dominance have left Western powers unprepared for China's rapid development across multiple sectors.
"When you've been on top of the mountain for 200 years, any sign of others climbing higher creates genuine anxiety," Mahbubani observed, noting this historical context shapes distorted narratives. He identified China's achievements in technology, infrastructure, and economic resilience as key factors challenging traditional power dynamics.
The scholar highlighted how this shift has manifested in 2025 through intensified scrutiny of China's policies, despite what he described as "clear evidence of improved living standards" for 1.4 billion people. Mahbubani urged international observers to move beyond zero-sum thinking, advocating for more nuanced understanding of China's development model within its historical and cultural context.
