Why China needs ‘as many friends as possible’ to prevail in US rivalry

China should cultivate more friends in global politics, as these partnerships with other countries could be the trump card in Beijing’s rivalry with the US, according to a leading Chinese international relations expert. Li Wei, a professor of international relations at Renmin University in Beijing, said on Saturday that whichever of the two powers could win support from the most third parties would “emerge victorious in the competition”. Li called for Beijing to “make as many friends as possible and as few enemies as possible” in its competition with Washington, evoking a slogan from former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.

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