Making America Imperialist Again
By Wendy Liu
Once upon a time in China, the two words “America” and “imperialism” were always uttered together. China fought alongside North Korea in the Korean War. China aided North Vietnam in the Vietnam War. The Nixon-Mao meeting in 1972 and the normalization of U.S.-China relations in 1979 changed that. People in China gladly disassociated “America” from “imperialism.” America became the “shining city on a hill” for 1989 Tiananmen demonstrators and the hottest destination for Chinese students, tourists, investors, and emigrants.
Well, things they are a-changing, again, especially under Trump. A friend in China said in a WeChat group that he used to admire America, now he was turned off by America.
And the two words “American” and “imperialism” are joining up again thanks to President Trump, two other words that should really be separated. To be accurate, what we are witnessing is “Trump imperialism.”
Hegemony? Check. The Donroe Doctrine? Western hemisphere domination? Petro imperialism? Check. Venezuela? Territorial ambitions? Check. Canada? Greenland? Panama Canal? Economic coercion? Check. Exorbitant tariffs on all countries? Disdain of international law? Check. Withdrawing from and threatening international organizations? Military intervention? Check, check and check, check, check, check. Now Iran.
https://www.postalley.org/2026/03/21/making-america-imperialist-again/