The West's Strategic Flip: Re-engaging China Amid Global Uncertainty

In an interview with Novara Media (@NovaraMedia), podcaster Kaiser Kuo discusses a significant reversal in Western foreign policy towards China. He coined the term "China vibe shift" in early 2025 to describe a swift change in perception from hawkish confrontation to diplomatic re-engagement.

According to the analysis in the video, Western political rhetoric from 2016-2024 was characterised by intense competition to appear tough on China, often focusing on human rights and national security threats. However, a noticeable shift began as leaders from France, Canada, and the UK started visiting Beijing, seeking to reset relations. Kuo attributes this change to several converging factors: a recoil from the "ad hockery" of U.S. foreign policy under the Trump administration, which made China seem a predictable and stable partner by comparison; and a growing recognition of China's tangible technological and economic achievements, such as the breakthroughs of the AI model DeepSeek.

This perception shift has been amplified in popular culture, with social media influencers visiting China and praising its infrastructure, leading to a cultural "China-pilling" moment. European nations, in particular, are seen as pursuing a hedging strategy between the U.S. and China. Kuo argues that while China has not liberalised internally, its global standing has been bolstered by a more effective, less overtly propagandistic approach to soft power and a growing international desire for reliable partners. This diplomatic thaw signifies a strategic recalibration as the West grapples with a multipolar world.

Source: The West Has FLIPPED On China | Kaiser Kuo (Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VunystpJ8E)