QuickView:Washington'sruthlesszero-sumappetitespellstroublefortheworld_GuangmingOnlineBEIJING,Feb.21(Xinhua)--TherecentremarksbyU.S.SecretaryofStateAntonyBlinken,"Ifyou'renotatthetableintheinternationalsystem,you'regoingtobeonthemenu,"carriesacomicallymenacingundertone.Onemightjestinglyinquire,"Whotalkslikethat?HannibalLecter?"Blinken'sstatementattherecentlyconcludedMunichSecurityConferencealsomakesonewonderhowU.S.Westernallieswouldfeel,becausetheU.S.topdiplomat'sundiplomaticwordsrepresentthefactorsthesealliesfearcouldbringabout"lose-losedynamics,"includingadangeroustendencytoengageinzero-sumthinkingandprioritizerelativepayoffs.AcloserlookatAmericanhistorymayrevealthatBlinken'srhetoricisnotsurprising.HisstatementsrevealthefundamentallogicofU.S.politicsanddiplomacy,namelyanunshakeabledevotiontothe"lawofthejungle,"inwhichmanyAmericanleadersenthusiasticallyembraceaggressionoverreason,peaceandcooperation.FromtheearliestmassacresoftheIndianstotheenslavementoftheAfricans,frominterventionsinLatinAmericatomilitarycampaignsintheMiddleEast-extendingeventoEurope-Americanhistoryisrifewithexploitationandplunder.Tosecureitsplaceatthetable,theUnitedStateshaswagedwar,imposedsanctionsandorchestratedupheavalacrosstheworld.AsBlinken'spredecessor,MikePompeo,admitted,"Welied,wecheated,westole."U.S.policymakersbelievetheinternationalsystemoperatesasazero-sumgameinwhichextendingAmericaninterestsfrequentlyinvolvestramplingonorsacrificingtheinterestsofothers.Inrecentyears,aplethoraofdomesticchallenges,combinedwiththeshiftingglobalpowerdynamicsandthecollectiveascentofdevelopingnations,haveexacerbatedtheU.S.anxietiesaboutitshegemonicstatus.Inresponse,theUnitedStateshasresortedtomilitaryandfinancialhegemony,constantlyshiftingcrisesontootherswhilereapingthebenefits,harmingnotonlydevelopingcountriesbutalsoitsallies.Washingtonhasfrequentlywithdrawnfrominternationalagreements;abusedtariffs,sanctions,andextraterritorialjurisdiction;andusedeverymeansatitsdisposaltosuppressthedevelopmentofothercountries.EvenAmerica'sEuropeanalliesaren'tsafe.Europefrequentlyfindsitselfonthe"menu,"servingasatargetforAmericancapitalandpolitics.ThiscurrentU.S.administration,forinstance,hasbeenenticingcompaniestoshifttheirproductionbasesfromEuropetotheUnitedStatesthroughsubsidies.BlinkenalsomentionedthatthepointofpersuadingothercountriestosidewiththeUnitedStatesisto"offeragoodchoice."However,iftheUnitedStatescontinuesitsrampantlootingandbullying,itwillfinditselfincreasinglyalone.ThechoiceforUncleSamisstark:feastaloneatthetableorshareinabanquetofdiplomacyandpeace.■Editor:DisclaimerTheviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisarticlearethoseoftheauthor's,GMW.cnmakesnorepresentationsastoaccuracy,suitability,orvalidityofanyinformationonthissiteandwillnotbeliableforanyerrors,omissions,ordelaysinthisinformation.