US-China Relations Updates

Recent frequent contacts between Chinese and US officials have sent signals of thawing relations between the two countries. This round of easing in China-US relations is almost identical to that of the past. After the US actively sought contact with China and China repeatedly refused, the relations between the two countries began to ease at a certain point. This media narrative often creates the impression that the easing of China-US relations is the result of US compromise and China’s hardline stance, as if the US has been making concessions to China. Is this really the truth?

It is true that the US has expressed its willingness to communicate with China publicly many times and sought contact with China. China has also rejected phone calls and more diplomatic contacts. However, does this diplomatic arrangement on the surface represent China’s sternness and US compromise? Does the logic of the “Cold War” really work?

The author does not believe that the easing of China-US relations is simply the result of China’s hardline stance and US compromise.

Today, China-US relations have developed to a point where interests are deeply integrated, including decoupling, cooperation, trade wars, and ideological struggles. The US has defined the China-US relationship as a competition, cooperation, and confrontation relationship, and acknowledges the need for cooperation in dealing with the relationship between the two countries. Although China clearly opposes defining the China-US relationship in the above “three-part” framework, cooperation and coexistence are also what China is pursuing. Just as China-US economic relations cannot be decoupled, China-US political and diplomatic relations cannot be decoupled either.

Refusing to communicate is temporary, and being stern is just a means. China cannot expect the US to compromise everywhere, and dealing with China-US relations also requires China’s own concessions. China has not reached a point where it can handle China-US relations as it wishes.

Dealing with challenges from the US is still a priority for China’s foreign policy at this stage. Ignoring the US and being stern towards the US in diplomatic cold war are all temporary strategies. The key is to guide China-US relations into a benign cycle of orderly communication.

The US shows proactive contact in its diplomacy towards China, but the predicament of repeated setbacks is not a self-exposure of its weaknesses, but a way of creating its responsible image. This itself is also a kind of public opinion war. While China adheres to its stance and shows a strong attitude, it also needs to pay attention to the management of its own international image.