U.S. President Barack Obama made criticisms recently that China has been an international "free rider" for 30 years. His comments have provoked considerable discussion. People cannot help but question the attitude of the US in its relations with the rest of the world.

Those who have a sound understanding of the mess in Iraq are likely to respond to Obama's "free rider" statement with a wry smile. The first Gulf War and the attack on Irqa based on groundless accusations concerning WMD (weapons of mass destruction) have turned Iraq into a poor and desperate country. Once its promises to turn Iraq into a "democratic country" had fallen apart, US forces withdrew from Iraq. Against this backdrop, it is difficult to see why it is appropriate for US to divert responsibility onto China.

The "free rider" statement on the Iraq problem is actually rooted in the "Chinese Responsibility Theory" that some Americans have advocated in recent years. No matter how much responsibility China has shouldered in dealing with international affairs, there are still voices making trouble out of nothing in their attempts to "regulate" China.

The US should think about how long it was a "free rider" itself before applying the label to other countries. If the "Free Rider" theory is self-evident, might it not be said that the US became the most powerful nation in the world by being a "free rider"in World War I and World War II? The IMF (International Monetary Fund) recently estimated that China is now contributing 30 percent of world economic growth, and that in 5 years China will be importing products worth $US 10 trillions and have foreign investments worth over $US 500 billions. In this context can the US also be considered a "free rider"?

The crux of the matter is not a question of who is taking the free ride, but who is taking on real responsibilities and acting in international affairs. In contrast to the US, China's cooperative attitude and win-win approach are evident to all. President Xi Jinping recently emphaized that China is willing to provide a lift up for other countries to share opportunities and achieve development together. "You can climb aboard our express train or just hitch a ride - all are welcome," he said. And this is the attitude a great country should have.

A great nation is supposed to have great mentality. Taking a biased and narrow view will never lead to any benefit. The fact that the US started the war in Iraq and left a mess behind it can never be covered with the "free rider" theory. The US should have a serious think about how to get along with the rest of the world. As John Feffer, the co-director of Foreign Policy in Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies, has said: "We are part of the world, there's no escaping that. Just as humans must reconfigure their relationship with nature, the United States must reconfigure its relationship with the world."

This article is edited and translated from 《美式“搭便车论”的偏隘》, source: People's Daily