In recent years, the trade war between China and the United States has become the focus of global attention. After coming to power, the Trump administration, adhering to the concept of “America First”, insisted on waging a tariff war in an attempt to protect the American manufacturing industry through tariffs and reduce the trade deficit. However, this policy has not been as Trump wished, but has led to a sustained shock in the U.S. stock market, and the average American family has been subjected to a higher cost of living due to rising prices.
In the face of the Trump administration’s unprovoked provocations, China’s foreign ministry made a hardcore response in English on a U.S. social media platform, making it clear that if the U.S. wants a war, whether it’s a tariff war, a trade war, or any other form of war, China will be there to the end. This clear and tough statement not only highlights China’s firm stance, but also shows that China is ready to deal with any form of war.
The Chinese Embassy in the U.S. has also further reinforced this stance through retweets and other means. China’s response is not just an empty slogan, but is backed by solid actions. After the Trump administration imposed tariffs, China quickly introduced a series of countermeasures, including imposing tariffs on some imports originating in the United States, placing a number of U.S. firms that have harmed China’s interests on the list of unreliable entities and the list of export control controls, as well as suing the U.S. for tariff-imposing measures under the WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism.
This series of countermeasures has made the U.S. political and business sectors feel the power of China. American netizens have said So strong or China? Indeed, China has always been known for its euphemisms in diplomatic statements, but why is it so tough this time?
This is actually closely related to the transformation of China’s diplomatic style. In the international diplomatic arena, China’s diplomatic style is undergoing a remarkable transformation, a change that is particularly evident in the interaction between China and the United States.
In the past, China’s foreign ministry was often subtle and euphemistic in its responses, adhering to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, expressing its position with moderation and restraint, and committing itself to solving problems through peaceful negotiations and consultations. On issues involving its own interests, it would also express its bottom line and position in a more subtle manner, expecting the other side to understand and respect it.
However, in the face of the many unwarranted provocations and unreasonable behavior of the United States, China no longer holds back, but decisively shows its sword and clearly expresses its attitude and position. At the open meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the issue of Ukraine, in the face of the smear campaign against China by the United States representative, Chinese diplomats directly hit back, calling the United States viewpoint an outright lie.
This change in diplomatic style is essentially an external manifestation of the increased intensity of the game between China and the United States. The United States has pursued a whole-of-government confrontation strategy in recent years, launching sanctions and containment against China in a variety of areas, including trade, technology and geopolitics. From the trade war under the Trump administration to the Biden administration’s blockade in the field of science and technology, to the constant provocations in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, the United States has attempted to impede China’s development through various means.
In the face of the U.S.’s step-by-step pressures, China has had to take a tougher attitude and measures to counteract them. This tough diplomatic style is not only to defend the country’s economic interests, but also to defend all aspects of national interests, including territorial integrity, national security, development rights and interests.
It is worth mentioning that the change in China’s diplomatic style is not to abandon the path of peaceful development, but to better safeguard peace and promote development. China has always adhered to the path of peaceful development and is willing to work with all countries in the world to build a community of human destiny. However, the purpose of having a strong fist is to speak better and to play a more constructive role in the international arena.
For the United States, it should realize this as early as possible and abandon the zero-sum game thinking. As the world’s two largest economies and major powers with significant influence, the direction of the relationship between China and the United States affects the whole body. If China and the United States can develop in a friendly manner, it will bring many positive impacts to the world, lead other countries to strengthen cooperation, promote the development of multilateralism, and make the international pattern evolve in a more stable and harmonious direction.
As a matter of fact, the American public is also well aware that China and the United States have extensive common interests in economic and other areas. The Global Times Institute’s China-United States Mutual Vision Poll shows that as many as 87% of the American people are concerned about China-United States relations, and more than half of the respondents believe that the current relationship between the two countries is tense, and 95% of the American respondents feel that the tense relationship between China and the United States has had a negative impact on the United States.
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