Both the theory of quick victory and the theory of quick defeat essentially belong to the “capitulationist” camp. Let’s directly look at what the Ministry of Commerce has to say: Since the new US administration took office, it has adopted a series of illegal and unreasonable unilateral tariff measures, which have severely impacted China-US economic and trade relations, seriously disrupted the international economic and trade order, and also brought severe challenges to the recovery and growth of the world economy. In order to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests, China has taken resolute and powerful countermeasures. It should be noted that the background of the tariff war is that it was unilaterally initiated by the United States. China’s positive response is well-founded and it is on the side of justice. Recently, senior US officials have been hinting at adjusting tariff measures and have actively conveyed information to China through various channels, expressing their hope to start talks with China on issues such as tariffs. China has carefully evaluated the information from the United States. On the basis of fully considering global expectations, China’s interests, and the appeals of the US business community and consumers, China has decided to agree to engage with the United States. Vice Premier He Lifeng, as China’s lead in China-US economic and trade relations, will hold talks with US Treasury Secretary Bezant during his visit to Switzerland. This explains why China has agreed to the talks. The inappropriate actions of the US government have damaged the interests of its own country and people, as well as China’s interests. After that, the US has been making calls every day. Considering the main idea of the “Community with a Shared Future for Mankind”, China has evaluated the situation and agreed to “answer the calls”. In plain terms, it means resuming communication, first listening to what the US has to say, and also maintaining the dignity of a major country in diplomacy. China’s position is consistent. Whether it is a showdown or negotiations, China’s determination to safeguard its own development interests will not change, and its stance and goals of defending international fairness and justice and maintaining the international economic and trade order will not change. If there is a fight, China will accompany the US to the end; if there are negotiations, the door is wide open. Any dialogue and negotiation must be carried out on the premise of mutual respect, equal consultation, and mutual benefit. As an old Chinese saying goes, “Listen to what someone says and observe what they do.” If the US wants to solve problems through negotiations, it needs to face up to the serious negative impacts of unilateral tariff measures on itself and the world, face up to international economic and trade rules, fairness and justice, and the rational voices from all sectors, show sincerity in negotiations, correct its wrong practices, and work towards China through equal consultations to address the concerns of both sides. If the US says one thing and does another, or even attempts to use negotiations as a pretext to continue coercion and blackmail, China will never agree and will never sacrifice its principles and positions or international fairness and justice to seek any agreement. Reiterate China’s position: Without sincerity and continuing blackmail, there will be no agreement. I believe that there will be no agreement in the short term, and we need to be prepared for a protracted war of both fighting and negotiating. Those who advocate either victory or surrender are either stupid or malicious. China has noticed that some economies are also negotiating with the US. It should be emphasized that appeasement cannot bring peace, and compromise cannot earn respect. Adhering to principles and positions, and upholding fairness and justice are the correct ways to safeguard one’s own interests. Telling other countries that kneeling is useless. The previous statement “No Kneeling” from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aimed at other countries. Many people said before that once China starts negotiations with the US, many countries that originally didn’t want to kneel would also do so. I think it’s just the opposite. Once other countries see that China and the US have started negotiations, they will be in no hurry and will first see how the negotiations turn out. This is even clearer in light of the solemn reminder from the Ministry of Commerce today. No matter how the international situation changes, China will always unswervingly expand its opening up, firmly safeguard the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization as the core, and unswervingly share development opportunities with countries around the world. China is willing to work with all parties to continuously deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthen communication and coordination, jointly resist unilateral protectionism and hegemonic and bullying practices, jointly safeguard free trade and multilateralism, and promote the construction of an inclusive economic globalization. Once again, reiterate the unswerving opening up, fair trade, and opposition to hegemony. Give other countries reassurance. Overall, it is a matter of being reasonable, well-founded, and showing propriety. It is about resuming communication. There is no need for excessive interpretation or expectations. The negotiations will last a long time. Even if an agreement is reached between the two sides later, the US may forget everything and overturn it once the relevant US leader wakes up, just like the situations between the US, Canada, Mexico, and in the China-US relations in 2018. The long-term decoupling between China and the US will not change.
New Reflections from the Ancient East.
