Book SummaryPlan Red, by Gordon G. Chang

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Plan Red

China's goal to rise to the top of the current global order.

The section of the book delves into China's aspirations to create a novel international pecking order, positioning itself at the forefront with the goal of surpassing the United States and reshaping the existing global structure that is steered by recognized standards, under the guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping. China's ambition is rooted in a historical viewpoint that regards the nation as the central force in worldwide culture.

China aims to establish a global order rooted in the principle of "Tianxia."

Chang highlights the traditional concept of "Tianxia," symbolizing a domain that includes all under heaven. This concept implies that China views itself as the sole authority on a global scale, with the emperor serving as a hallowed conduit linking the terrestrial and the celestial realms.

China regards itself as the world's sole sovereign power, with the emperor serving in a sacred role.

Chang establishes the historical context by emphasizing the conviction among Chinese rulers that they are divinely ordained to rule all that exists beneath the sky, an idea known as "tianxia." A single sovereign authority should govern the globe, while other nations assume secondary roles and are obliged to regularly demonstrate their deference. The author explains that despite China's adoption of communism, its approach to foreign policy remains shaped by a deeply ingrained structural strategy.

Practical Tips

• Explore the concept of sovereignty in your personal life by creating a "sovereign space" in your home. Designate a specific area where your decisions are absolute, and use it to practice making choices without external influence. This could be a small corner where you decide everything from decor to the type of activities you do, mirroring the autonomy of a sovereign power on a micro-scale.
• Create a personal mission statement that aligns with the idea of having a purposeful role in your community. Write down your values and goals, and how you intend to contribute to the well-being of your community. This exercise will help you to see your life as part of a larger picture and encourage you to act in ways that benefit the collective.
• Participate in online forums or social media groups that discuss global governance. Look for communities that are open to diverse opinions and engage in conversations about the pros and cons of a single sovereign authority. By actively participating, you can gauge public opinion and the practicality of implementing such a governance model in today's interconnected world.
• Create a global news digest that prioritizes Chinese perspectives on international events to gain insight into China's worldview. Use news aggregator apps to follow Chinese state media and independent news outlets that report on China's international policies and domestic affairs. This will help you understand the narratives China promotes and how it wishes to be seen by the world.
• Enhance your understanding of international relations by role-playing different countries in a mock negotiation setting. Gather a group of friends and assign each person a country with a distinct foreign policy. Each participant will research their assigned country's historical foreign policy strategies and act out a negotiation on a global issue. This exercise will help you grasp the complexities of how past strategies influence present-day diplomacy, much like how China's historical strategies shape its current foreign policy.

China's leadership, spearheaded by Xi Jinping, views the existence of sovereign states as an obstacle and is intent on establishing a worldwide pecking order with China at its apex.

Xi Jinping's ambition is not limited to internal growth but also includes the revitalization and strengthening of China's stature and influence on a global scale. China aims to restore its historical dominance by establishing a worldwide pecking order with itself at the apex. This structure would fundamentally alter the current global relations system, which is based on the concept of sovereign states, and create a new pecking order with China at the pinnacle, inspired by ancient traditions where states render homage.

Other Perspectives

• The ambition attributed to Xi Jinping and China's leadership could be interpreted as a desire for a fairer global governance system where emerging economies have a greater say, rather than an attempt to create a China-centric world order.
• The concept of influence is subjective and can manifest in cooperative frameworks rather than hierarchical ones.
• The use of the term "historical dominance" may not take into account the complexities of China's long...

Plan Red Summary China's ambitions to ascend to the position of global preeminence

The narrative section examines how China views the United States as the primary obstacle to its global ambitions. Chang outlines a strategy that began in the era of Mao Zedong, aimed at surpassing the United States to establish itself as the dominant world power.

China aspires to ascend to the position of the world's foremost superpower.

Chang delves into the interactions between nations, emphasizing that Beijing regards Washington as a rival to be outdone in the quest for global dominance. The struggle goes beyond mere economic and military supremacy; it represents a clash between distinct ideologies and visions for the future world order.

China views the United States as its main rival in the quest for worldwide supremacy.

Chang suggests that the Chinese government views the United States not simply as a competitor, but as a profound threat to its survival. This peril, according to Chang, emerges not from deliberate aggressive actions by the United States, but from the intrinsic characteristics and principles that define the citizens of America. Gordon G. Chang warns that the presence of a free and democratic United States poses a challenge to the power wielded by...

Plan Red Summary Strategies orchestrated by Beijing were designed to disrupt the political balance within the United States.

China, under Xi Jinping's direction, is actively implementing a broad strategy aimed at conducting political warfare against the United States. This involves employing propaganda, spreading disinformation, and manipulating social media to infiltrate American society's core, consequently weakening its foundational structures and inciting internal conflict.

Beijing's campaigns of misinformation and deception were specifically aimed at the United States.

Chang uncovers the complex strategies employed by China to disseminate propaganda and misinformation aimed at eroding the trust in American leadership, institutions, and values, affecting perceptions both within the United States and internationally.

China undermines confidence in American leadership and institutions by engaging diplomatically and leveraging various online platforms for communication.

Chang underscores specific cases in which China has been actively disseminating false information and carrying out propaganda campaigns to undermine confidence in the electoral system, while also promoting baseless stories about the origins of COVID-19. He emphasizes that Beijing utilizes government-controlled media and...

Plan Red Summary Efforts by China to cause biological and chemical damage to the people of the United States.

This section of the narrative scrutinizes China's use of biological and chemical agents to engage in conflict with American interests. Chang implies that China deliberately spread the COVID-19 pandemic and intensified the opioid epidemic by circulating [restricted term] throughout America. Additionally, Chang emphasizes the United States' preparedness for biological warfare, a capability tied to clandestine labs established by operatives from China.

China's involvement in the Covid-19 outbreak

Chang presents a harsh assessment of China's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, suggesting that it constitutes a deliberate attack with the use of biological weapons on an international level.

The virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic is thought to have emerged from research labs in China, where it was intentionally released.

Chang presents the theory that a laboratory in Wuhan, known for its virology studies, could be the birthplace of the COVID-19 virus, potentially linked to biowarfare research, and suggests that its spread might have been a deliberate act carried out by Chinese officials. The writer outlines how the initial warnings about the virus were stifled by...