After more than a year of turmoil, on April 10, 2024, NetEase, a Chinese gaming company, and Blizzard announced they would resume their partnership. On January 23, 2023, NetEase issued a farewell letter titled "NetEase's Farewell Letter to Blizzard's National Service Players: Thank You for 14 Years," officially marking the end of Blizzard's operations in China's national servers. The thirteen-year partnership was financially successful for Blizzard in the Chinese market, but it ended over unresolved financial disagreements.
The departure was far from amicable. In "A Letter to Blizzard Gamers," NetEase explained the reason for the dissolution: "We were unable to agree with Blizzard on several critical terms related to sustainable operation and core interests of the Chinese market and its players. Today, Activision Blizzard has decided to end its cooperation with NetEase, and we must accept this decision."
For players, Blizzard's decision was devastating. Beyond financial losses, the overnight disappearance of their game accounts was particularly painful. Ordinary players simply wanted to enjoy the games, but the corporate conflict between NetEase and Blizzard inevitably made them casualties. I somehow find this situation interesting as the players caught between Blizzard and NetEase reminds me of how the Chinese international students in the U.S. are caught in the crossfire of U.S.-China relations. These students, including me, merely came to the states to seek for better educational opportunities. Yet they eventually find themselves unavoidably swept up in the swirl of polarizationa and political tensions.
If we look at the data, since about a decade ago, the net growth of Chinese students studying in the U.S. had been declining each year, with growth even dropped negative before and during the pandemic. Nowadays, if you search for "Chinese students in the U.S." yields results filled with either concerns from the West or the anxiety from within the community.
I found an interesting report released in 2021 by the Pew Research Center. The team found that about 89% of American adults see China as a competitor or enemy rather than a partner. Many support a tougher stance on bilateral relations, whether it's advocating for human rights in China, adopting a stronger economic posture, or limiting Chinese students' study opportunities in the U.S. From a broader perspective, 48% believe that limiting China's power and influence should be a primary goal of U.S. foreign policy, up from 32% in 2018. Regarding Chinese students specifically, opinions are even more divided. A majority of Americans (55%) support restrictions on Chinese students studying in the U.S., with about one-fifth strongly supporting this idea. On the other hand, 43% oppose such restrictions, with 18% strongly against it.
In this context, I find a comment by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, though might not be entirely factually correct, intriguing. He said, "2,500 years ago, the sages of China advocated: 'All things grow together without harming each other; paths run parallel without contradicting each other.' This is the Eastern philosophy of life, which continues to enlighten. Americans have always valued equality, inclusivity, and diversity as their relentless pursuit. The world shouldn't be black and white, nor should systemic differences lead to zero-sum outcomes. China will not and cannot become another America. The correct approach is mutual respect, appreciation, learning from each other, and achieving together. Since its reform and opening up, China has learned much from developed countries. Similarly, some of China's successful practices also offer insights for many countries facing current challenges."
In the current situation, with all the tension going on, it seems like both sides should take a step back and reevaluate the U.S.-China relations. The interests of both nations are closely tied and cannot fully escape political influences. Sometimes it's best not to exaggerate individual incidents but to focus on the overall trend of bilateral relations. Only by setting aside personal emotions and viewing issues objectively can we better promote long-term stability and development in U.S.-China relations.
At the end of the day, it's all for Azeroth.
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