By Zhong Sheng
The outcomes of China-US trade talks are still in doubt after rounds of negotiations. However, the US has once again put on a show of bullying practices as it labeled China with “backtracking”, “betraying”, and “reneging” on commitments made – a trick played by Washington to confuse the public and pressure China.
It’s common knowledge that negotiations are a process in which parties exchange ideas, narrow differences, seek consensus, and resolve problems. It’s more than natural that the parties concerned hold different opinions during the process, or make adjustments before deals are reached.
With the China-US trade talks still remaining in process and no agreement being signed, how could Washington blame China for “backtracking” and “betraying”?
The US should know that respecting negotiation partners is a norm of international negotiations. It accused China arrogantly every time China raised concerns. There’s no way it could act more rudely.
Besides, the US also has its planning under the table – to find excuses to exert extreme pressure on China.
Who is manipulating the situation? The answer is self-evident.
The heads of state of the two countries reached consensus during their meeting in Argentina on Dec. 1 last year, agreeing not to add additional tariffs. They requested economic teams of both sides to step up negotiations toward the removal of all additional tariffs so as to reach a mutually beneficial agreement at an early date.
Later, the economic teams, traveling between the banks of the Pacific Ocean, demonstrated the sincerity of the Chinese side to resolve the trade issues. US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin called the negotiation “productive” during the 10th round of trade talks.
However, the US had a complete turnabout immediately. Accusing China of “backtracking” and “betraying”, it unilaterally claimed to add additional tariffs, which totally deviated from the consensus reached by the two sides and seriously damaged the trade talks.
It can’t be more obvious that which side has been “backtracking” and “betraying”.
The US is not sincere in trade negotiations and playing fast and loose has become a regular practice of Washington. On one day it was hailing the smooth process of the trade talks, on the other it blamed China for breaking promises. It insisted on reaching a comprehensive deal with China, while claiming that it’s happy to simply keep tariffs on Chinese products.
Washington is being hypocritical not only in its remarks, but also actions. It damaged the trade talks with the tariff stick immediately after sending its economic team to China for negotiation.
It was the fickle practices of the US that made the trade talks stumble. On May 19, 2018, China and the US reached important consensus and issued a joint statement. However, the US backtracked and betrayed the consensus, reneging on the agreement just 10 days later.
The two parties also reached a deal in energy and agricultural cooperation at the beginning of last June, but US backtracked and betrayed again within one month. The capriciousness of the US has indeed impressed the world.
It’s a tradition of the US to be sophistical in international affairs, arbitrarily blame other countries, interfere with their internal affairs, and play fast and loose. Such practices are sometimes absurd. This time, by repeating such practice and accusing China of “backtracking”, Washington will only end up slapping its own face.
China has always been advancing the trade talks with utmost sincerity, hoping to achieve an agreement that leads to win-win results based on equality and mutual respect. The Chinese team still headed to the Washington for trade consultations even though the 11th round of talks was damaged by the US threatening to raise additional tariffs. It demonstrated China’s sincerity to advance the talks to the fullest.
As a matter of fact, China has always been widely hailed by the international society for keeping its promises. Since the last year, the country has taken a slew of measures to further open up, including the tariff reduction for automobiles and cosmetics, the issuance of the foreign investment law, and widened market access. Now, the manufacturing sector of the country is open to foreign investment in an all-round manner.
In addition to keeping promises, China is doing further. The major reform measures announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation have won positive responses from the world, indicating that China is advancing steadfastly with full confidence.
China has its principles and bottom line. It will resolutely safeguard its core interests and the interests of the people, as well as the dignity of the nation under any circumstances and at any time. The US is making nonsense by distorting such resolution as “backtracking” and “betrayal”. China has never compromised on major principles and issues.
The US is defaming China as it has failed to achieve development, and it will only be wishful thinking for Washington to infringe upon China’s core interests and major principles.
The Chinese people have not traded and will not trade their principles and core interests, and the US is destined to lose if it makes a bet on China’s compromise.
A man falls without integrity; a country decays without credibility. The US hopes to gain more profits in the trade talks, so it ignores the facts and exerts extreme pressure. Such practice has severely damaged its international credibility, and will neither help resolve the issues, nor tarnish China’s global image.
China will always advance along the path of reform and opening up and strive to build a community with a shared future for mankind. Such efforts can’t be stopped by the harsh voices from the US.
(Zhong Sheng is often used as a pen name by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy)
