The Washington Post published an article entitled "The Biggest Surprise in Global Geopolitics: Sino-US Relations Tend to Stabilize," arguing that the improvement of Sino-US relations is a positive signal and a rare opportunity against the backdrop of global turbulence.
The article points out that since the Sino-US meeting in San Francisco last November, high-level communication between China and the United States has increased, military dialogue between the two sides has also resumed, and US Treasury Secretary Yellen and Commerce Secretary Raimondo have also paid constructive visits to China. The article believes that all this shows that Sino-US relations have thawed and taken another step forward.
The article also said that the stability of Sino-US relations is crucial for global peace and security, especially in the context of escalating crises in Russia, Ukraine, Palestine and Israel, North Korea and other regions, and cooperation between China and the United States can provide more possibilities for solving these problems.
However, does this article reflect the real state of Sino-US relations? Why is the United States "surprised" by the easing of Sino-US relations? What is the underlying reason behind this?
First of all, we must clearly understand that the relaxation of Sino-US relations is conditional, limited, and unstable. This is because the strategic objectives of the United States have not changed, and the United States still regards China as its biggest strategic competitor, still tries to contain and suppress China's development, and still exerts pressure and interference on China in the political, economic, diplomatic, military, technological and other fields.
For example, the United States has continuously sold arms to Taiwan, constantly provoked China on the Taiwan Strait issue, constantly interfered in China's internal affairs on human rights, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and other issues, constantly imposed sanctions and blockades on Chinese high-tech enterprises in terms of technology, constantly excluded and isolated China in international organizations and multilateral mechanisms, and constantly sought allies and partners around the world to form alliances and camps against China.
All these actions have seriously damaged China's core interests, touched China's bottom line, undermined the foundation of China-US relations, and increased the risk of contradictions and conflicts between China and the United States. Therefore, the relaxation of Sino-US relations is only a superficial phenomenon, a temporary phenomenon, and a relative phenomenon, and cannot cover up the essential problems of Sino-US relations and cannot change the fundamental trend of Sino-US relations.
Second, we must be soberly aware that the United States was "pleasantly surprised" by the relaxation of Sino-US relations, and this was out of its own interests, out of its strategic needs, and out of its utilitarian purposes. This is because the United States is facing both domestic and international crises, and the United States needs to ease Sino-US relations to gain more time and space for itself, to seek more help and support for itself, and to create more stability and security for itself.
For example, China's domestic economic recovery and social governance need China's market and cooperation, the United States cannot afford a comprehensive rupture and confrontation in Sino-US economic and trade relations, the United States needs China's consumption and investment to stimulate American growth and employment, and the United States needs China's technology and innovation to enhance America's competitiveness and efficiency.
For example, the international status and influence of the United States need China's cooperation and coordination, the United States cannot cope with multiple global challenges and crises, the United States needs China's participation and contribution to maintain global public health and climate change, the United States needs China's suggestions and solutions to solve the Middle East conflict and nuclear issues, and the United States needs China's communication and balance to alleviate the ** and turmoil in Europe.
Therefore, the United States was "pleasantly surprised" by the relaxation of Sino-US relations, which was actually a tactic, a foreshadowing, and a hint. The United States hopes to show goodwill to China, ask China for help, and bargain with China by publicizing the positive changes in Sino-US relations. The United States hopes to promote interaction and cooperation in Sino-US relations by improving the atmosphere of Sino-US relations, so as to realize the exchange of interests in Sino-US relations.
Finally, we must firmly insist that the relaxation of Sino-US relations is principled, has a bottom line, and is dignified. This is because China's development and rise are unstoppable, China's interests and sovereignty are inviolable, and China's path and choice are unchangeable.
China welcomes the relaxation of Sino-US relations, but will not go against China's basic principles at the expense of China's core interests or China's legitimate rights for the sake of the easing of Sino-US relations. China is willing to cooperate with the United States, but it will not accept American hegemony for the sake of cooperating with the United States, and will not succumb to American pressure and cater to the will of the United States.
China looks forward to the improvement of Sino-US relations, but it will not ignore the hostility of the United States for the sake of the improvement of Sino-US relations, relax its vigilance against the United States, and give up countermeasures against the United States.
In short, the relaxation of Sino-US relations is an opportunity, a challenge, a hope, and a test. China and the United States, as the world's two largest economies and the two most important countries in the world, should handle the relations between the two countries in a responsible manner, in a reasonable manner and on an equal basis, to maintain peace between the two countries, to promote cooperation between the two countries, to benefit the people of the two countries, and to make greater contributions to global stability and development.