By Zhong Sheng
Just as China and the U.S. prepared for the 12th round of high-level economic and trade consultations, some American politicians once again found ants in their pants and tried to destroy the potential for cooperation.
They claimed that Chinese negotiators “always change the deal in the end to their benefit” and that “they should probably wait out our Election to see if we get one of the Democrat stiffs like Sleepy Joe. Then they could make a GREAT deal, like in past 30 years”.
Is it a necessary step before the two sides actually reach an economic and trade agreement? Absolutely not!
Such frequent disturbance is both groundless and illogical, and the intention behind all this is simple – the U.S. politicians just want to grab as much as they can.
It seems like that they have completely forgot their commitment to “restarting economic and trade consultation based on equality and mutual respect”, in an attempt to intimidate their negotiation partner and force the latter to make concession.
However, these American politicians are not aware that for a country like China that has the capability and strength to deal with whatever comes to it, repeatedly resorting to the tactic of exerting pressure will not work at all.
China will never break its principles and make concession, and it will resolutely safeguard its core interests and the fundamental interests of its people. The American politicians had better stop their unrealistic illusion.
Some American officials never feel ashamed to fight for the so-called “America First” at the negotiation table. On one hand, they are telling the world that the U.S. would never stand to lose; on the other hand, they claim that the U.S. has been “plundered” by China, for even up to 30 years.
International relations are never something that can be played with, and it must be made clear that such act of cooking up stories and making false accusations against China is purely making trouble out of nothing in total disregard of facts.
China has never had the motivation or the practice of “plundering”, and the U.S., a big country that has stood at the top of the global value chain for so long, would in no way have stood by and watched itself being plundered by China for 30 years.
People around the world can tell right and wrong. They know clearly that China has always been endeavoring to discuss and seek ways to pursue win-win results with various countries faithfully. And they welcome such efforts from China.
Leaders of China and the U.S. have reached consensus on the development of China-U.S. economic and trade relations, and the people of both countries are looking forward to continuing bilateral cooperation as agreed in this consensus.
“Had we not barred Chinese companies from putting their money to work in our economy, they would be pumping about $80 billion annually into expanding the U.S. private sector and creating jobs in America,” said Charles W. Freeman Jr., former U.S. Ambassador to China and chief interpreter of former U.S. President Richard Nixon.
The essence of China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation is mutual benefit and win-win results. The Chinese and U.S. people have joined their hands to write a chapter of sincere cooperation, and this chapter can’t be destroyed by the noises made by certain people.
What attitude will the U.S. adopt for resuming economic and trade consultations with China? What will it do to respond to the expectations of the Chinese and American people and the people of the world?
As the answers are yet to be confirmed, it might be wise to review a line from the famous ancient Chinese philosopher Meng Zi, who said “arrogant and disdainful attitude and pretentious remarks would repel people.”
Instead of creating problems, these American officials had better keep themselves sober and show some self-respect and good faith if they really want to continue consultations with China.
To obtain good results, the U.S. should focus on the common interests it shares with China. Only by working together with sincerity and facing the problems can the two countries achieve outcomes that are favored by both sides.
（Zhong Sheng is a pen name used by People’s Daily to express views on foreign policy.）
