The name of China in Chinese is “Zhong Guo,” which should be translated into “the central empire.” However, the commonly used translation by the so-called China experts is “the middle kingdom,” which conveys a romantic mystical feeling about China. But for the Chinese Communist Party, there is nothing romantic or mystical about what it wants China to be: the center of the world. The CCP’s vision was laid bare during the recent visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Beijing.

There have been numerous comments regarding this visit, so I will not discuss its contents and results here. I only want to make a few remarks about the formality of this visit. One aspect is the seating arrangement during the visit, and the other is the posture of Blinken and Chinese President Xi Jinping as shown in a photo released by China and circulated on Twitter.

According to international conventions, seating arrangements during bilateral meetings should be equal. However, the CCP violated this convention by arranging for a long table, where Xi sat at the center of the table’s top end while officials from both countries were seated on either side, appearing like his subordinates. This arrangement clearly portrays Xi as an emperor receiving an envoy from the United States.

Had a candid, substantive, and constructive conversation with People’s Republic of China President Xi Jinping in Beijing today. We discussed a range of important issues, including the need to manage our relationship responsibly. pic.twitter.com/Q8kuMm6kly

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) June 19, 2023

The other aspect is the photo released by the CCP, showing Blinken bowing and shaking hands with Xi while the latter remains motionless, resembling an emperor receiving obeisance from a subsidiary state. The authenticity of this photo cannot be verified — specifically, whether Blinken actually bowed and kneeled before Xi, whether it captured an accidental moment of posture adjustment, or whether it was a photoshopped image.

Yikes. Body language. pic.twitter.com/MHx2Jw07zz

— Arthur Schwartz (@ArthurSchwartz) June 19, 2023

If Blinken did indeed bow and kneel, it would be embarrassing for the United States, but that is not the focus of my article. What I want to say is whether the CCP’s deliberate attempts to portray China as the world’s empire, constantly demeaning foreign countries, especially the United States, whom it considers the top hegemon, demonstrates its strength.

But does it work for the CCP? Below is my take. 

First, in modern civilized societies, the most important aspect of international interactions is mutual respect and equality. Ironically, despite the Chinese Communist Party’s constant emphasis on equality and noninterference in other countries’ internal affairs, it flagrantly disregards these principles through its actions. Its rhetoric sounds good, but, in practice, it resorts to underhanded tactics. Saying one thing and doing another has always been the party’s modus operandi, and, in this incident, its duplicity is evident, revealing its true nature.

Second, the CCP’s behavior is intended to convey the message: “I can disregard the rules — what can you do about it?” This kind of rude and unreasonable attitude is no different than that of the street ruffians in Beijing during the Cultural Revolution, of which the young Xi was a member. Those ruffians were utterly lawless and ruthless, especially when they felt that they could get away with their behavior. Facing stronger opponents, their trick was to insult them to the level just below the point that the other party would explode, then back off and proclaim victory, a sort of chest-pounding and self-kidding strategy. In their eyes, if they could gain a slight advantage over others, it meant they were powerful.

Third, the CCP’s actions are primarily aimed at impressing the Chinese people themselves, making the “little red pinks” (Chinese nationalists) — like being injected with drugs — more excited, believing that China is very powerful and dares to challenge even American imperialism. However, in the eyes of the world, particularly civilized nations, such behavior does not garner greater respect for the party. Instead, it exposes its insecurity and lack of confidence.

Of course, this is not the first time the Chinese Communist Party has resorted to such uncivilized gestures. This behavior is consistent with the essence of its wolf-warrior diplomacy. The party’s rude and aggressive behavior has made the world not only take notice but also fear. A Canadian employee who recently resigned from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank revealed that the Chinese employees there act tyrannically, and the rest of the employees avoid confronting them. Therefore, although the CCP engaged in those gestures during the meeting between Xi and Blinken, indicating its lack of strength and revealing its insecurities, we cannot ignore the fact that with its low human-rights advantage and the assistance of Wall Street investors, the growth rate of China’s economic and military strength surpasses that of democratic countries. (RELATED: These American Businessmen Are Cozying Up With China)

In this trend, if the international community stands idly by, it is only a matter of time before the Chinese Communist Party proclaims itself as the emperor of the world. Once such a two-faced and rude country becomes the world’s leading superpower, the entire world will truly have to make a pilgrimage to China.

It is time to ditch our one-sided romantic feeling towards the “middle kingdom” and seriously deal with the Central Empire wannabe.

Shaomin Li is a professor of International Business at Old Dominion University.