Disclaimer: I’m an American citizen who has lived in the US my entire life. I’ve never been to China, but if I had the opportunity to move there tomorrow, I would do it without hesitation. Here are the main reasons why I currently feel this way.
Abortion rights: In China, women retain control over their reproductive choices. In the US, with Roe v. Wade overturned, abortion access is rapidly disappearing across many states and is likely to be entirely banned in several of them by 2025.
Separation of church and state: China enforces a strict separation between religion and government. In contrast, the US has increasingly blurred that boundary, with religious ideology playing an ever-larger role in political decision-making.
Health care: China has universal health care; the US does not. Additionally, during the pandemic, China’s response—though extremely strict—prevented mass casualties. I’d personally prefer harsh lockdowns over losing the equivalent of five million people, which is the proportional number of Americans who died from COVID.
Gun violence: In the US, there is always a background fear of gun violence. Every time I leave my house, I know there’s a non-zero chance of encountering a mass shooting. China’s strict gun laws mean that daily life doesn’t involve that constant risk.
Human rights: I’m aware of China’s treatment of Uyghurs and fully condemn it. However, I also believe the US is committing its own human rights violations—specifically against LGBTQ youth through policies like “Don’t Say Gay,” book bans, and attempts to erase LGBTQ identities from public life.
National image: When I travel abroad, I almost never say I’m American; I say I’m from the Boston area. That’s partly because Americans are often stereotyped overseas as overweight, violent, or ignorant. Whether or not that’s fair, it’s uncomfortable. From what I can tell, China’s leadership—despite their many flaws—isn’t viewed globally with the same mix of ridicule and embarrassment that US politics often generates, especially when Republicans dominate the conversation.
Final note: China isn’t the only country I’d prefer over the US. I would love to live in places like Australia or the UK. But if my choices were narrowed down to only the US or China, based on the current trajectory of US politics and society, I’d choose China.
