China vs. the US: A 5,000-Year Boast Amid a Modern Trade War—What’s Really at Stake?

In a recent X post that’s sparked heated debate, Victor Gao, Vice President of the Beijing-based Center for China and Globalization (CCG), boldly declared that China could survive losing the US market, leaning on the nation’s 5,000-year history to make his point. “China has been here for 5,000 years, most of the time there was no US, and we survived,” Gao stated in an interview, brushing off concerns about escalating trade tensions. But Xi Van Fleet, the post’s author, fired back with a sharp critique: the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), founded in 1921, isn’t the same as China’s ancient civilization. “The CCP is not China,” she wrote, arguing that the party’s radical Western-born Communist ideology doesn’t embody the enduring spirit of the Chinese people. So, what’s the truth behind this clash of narratives, and what does it mean for the US-China trade war in 2025? Let’s dive in.

A Boast Rooted in History—or Myth?

Gao’s claim of a 5,000-year history sounds impressive, but is it accurate? On the surface, it’s a powerful rhetorical move, evoking the grandeur of ancient dynasties like the Shang, which dates back to around 1600 BC with the earliest written records in the Yellow River valley. However, as historian John Ross points out in a Camphor Press article, the 5,000-year figure often blurs the line between history and mythology. If we define “history” by written records or large settlements, China’s documented past stretches back about 3,200 years—still ancient, but not quite the 5,000 years Gao touts. Some Reddit discussions echo this, noting that while pre-historic cultures existed in the region as far back as 5,000 years, calling that a continuous “civilization” stretches the definition. Meanwhile, civilizations like Mesopotamia predate China by centuries, challenging the idea of China’s unique antiquity.

Xi Van Fleet’s counterargument cuts deeper. She highlights that the CCP, born in 1921 with roots in the Russian Communist Party and Marxist ideology, is a modern construct—barely over a century old. The CCP’s claim to China’s ancient legacy, she argues, is a propaganda tactic to legitimize its rule. Replies to her post on X amplify this sentiment.

@ClintTaylor, wrote, “The CCP tyranny DOES NOT EQUAL the good people of China,” while

@EleonoraFall, noted, “CCP is based on a non-Chinese ideology!” The distinction matters: if the CCP isn’t synonymous with China, can it really claim the resilience of a 5,000-year civilization in today’s trade war?

The Trade War Heats Up in 2025

Gao’s dismissal of the US market’s importance comes at a pivotal moment. On April 11, 2025—the same day Xi Van Fleet shared her post—Beijing announced retaliatory tariffs of up to 125% on US imports, according to Reuters. This was a direct response to the Trump administration’s aggressive trade policies, which have included tariffs on Chinese goods like solar panels, as noted in a Wikipedia entry on the China-US trade war. The fallout has been seismic: a $29 trillion selloff in the US Treasury market has rattled global economies, with investors bracing for more uncertainty.

Gao’s “we don’t care” attitude doesn’t align with the reality on the ground.

@JayEverett, replying to Xi Van Fleet’s post, shared a firsthand perspective: “My company manufactures our products in China. They are shitting their pants right now.” This suggests that Chinese businesses are far more concerned about losing the US market than Gao lets on. The trade war’s ripple effects are undeniable—American companies are adjusting supply chains, with 19% seeking to source outside China, per Wikipedia data, while 28% are delaying investments there. Meanwhile, US consumers face higher prices, as tariffs on everyday goods and medical supplies (crucial during the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic) drive up costs.

Civilization vs. Communism: A Deeper Divide

The X thread reveals a broader ideological battle. Gao’s rhetoric paints China as a timeless, unshakeable civilization, but critics like

@SydneyHedderich accuse him of projecting China’s own “bullying” behavior—like intellectual property theft—onto the US.

@AxeStallion, challenges the idea of China as a continuous 5,000-year entity, noting that the US, at 249 years, is the longest-standing modern nation with the same government structure.

@Wombat_socho, adds a historical jab: “For most of those 5,000 years, China was poor, wretched, and being invaded by their neighbors,” though Xi Van Fleet quickly countered, “Far from the truth!”

The real tension lies in the CCP’s identity. Founded on July 1, 1921, with the help of the Russian Communist Party, the CCP’s roots are undeniably tied to Western ideology—specifically Marxism-Leninism. Wikipedia notes that the party’s early days were marked by foreign influence, with its first congress held in Shanghai and later moved to a boat in Zhejiang to evade French police. Fast forward to today, and the CCP’s grip on power often clashes with China’s cultural heritage, as Xi Van Fleet argues. Her call to action—“China will endure. The CCP must be defeated”—resonates with those who see the party as an oppressive force distinct from the Chinese people’s enduring spirit.

What’s at Stake for the Future?

The US-China trade war isn’t just about tariffs—it’s a clash of narratives, histories, and visions for the future. If the CCP continues to frame itself as the inheritor of a 5,000-year legacy, it risks alienating those who see through the propaganda. On the other hand, Gao’s confidence might signal a strategic pivot: China could be preparing to lean harder on domestic markets or alternative global partners, as it has with Cuba, where party-to-party ties have strengthened since the fall of Eastern European communism.

For the US, the stakes are equally high. Tariffs may protect domestic industries, but they also strain American consumers and global supply chains. The Wall Street Journal has warned that US tariffs on Chinese medical supplies threaten critical imports—a dire concern post-COVID-19. Both nations are playing a high-stakes game, and the outcome will shape the global economy for decades.

What do you think? Is China’s 5,000-year history a valid shield against modern economic pressures, or is the CCP overplaying its hand? Can the US sustain its trade war without shooting itself in the foot? And most importantly, how do we separate a nation’s cultural heritage from the political regimes that claim to represent it? Share your thoughts—I’d love to hear them.