Wang Yi outlines road map to re-stabilize Sino-US ties

Since I first covered the two sessions, the two most important political meetings of the People’s Republic of China, as a Bangladeshi journalist in 2019, I have kept a close eye on the sessions every year. In that time, I have never missed the regular press conference of Foreign Minister Wang Yi. This time I listened to him talking about China's foreign policy and diplomatic relations at a virtual press conference on Monday.

The foreign minister said the US needs to put its verbal assurances into practice and major country competition is not the right choice. I have found his statements to be a reiteration of China's policy towards the US. 

I think the foreign minister's statements have outlined an assertive roadmap to re-stabilize Sino-US ties. It created a contrast with the US, which eats its words all the time.

President Biden reaffirmed the US government's long-standing one-China policy, stated the US does not support "Taiwan independence" and expressed hope for peace and stability to be maintained in the Taiwan Straits. The US is willing to work with China based on mutual respect and peaceful coexistence, increase communication and handle differences constructively. President Biden also reiterated the US does not seek to change China's system and his country has no intention to have a conflict with China.

The world then hoped the US administration will translate its president's words into action and seek no confrontation with China. Analysts were optimistic the online summit between the two leaders lifted global hopes for win-win cooperation between China and the US. But unfortunately, after the summit, the US seems to have forgotten its president's assurances.

Retreating from Biden's promises, the US continues to stoke more discord and acrimony with China. The US has sold destructive weapons to Taiwan once again. By sending delegations to the island, the US president himself trampled on his commitments. Therefore, Wang Yi has said the US needs to put its verbal assurances into practice.

On the other hand, by saying major country competition is not the right choice, China's foreign minister has stood on the right side of history. The US should realize that cooperation with China is the only way to face common global challenges.

US policymakers should remember their efforts to undermine China have boomeranged on them, triggering many crises including acute inflation and price hikes. Numerous studies have found US companies primarily paid for US tariffs, with the cost estimated at nearly $46 billion. US farmers have lost the vast majority of what was once a $24 billion market in China as a result of Chinese retaliatory action.

Peace-loving people, except for some warmongers in Washington, never would consider a confrontation between the largest and second-largest economies of the world. I firmly believe such an unhealthy exercise will spell more disaster to the US instead of bringing good results. It will cause pain and suffering to people around the world. The US will make a blunder if it compares China with the Soviet Union, as they are not the same and the US itself is not in the same position it was during the Cold War.

The US also needs to realize it is now standing in the era of globalization when any strategy of isolation is doomed to fail in the long run. During the Cold War it was privileged to lead the capitalist bloc of the then bipolar world. But now their perceived opponent China is an important ally and strategic partner of many capitalist countries which think the Chinese economy is essential for the development of their own economies.

The US has to accept that China is the largest trading and a major development partner of most of the countries of the world. Even China is one of the major trading partners of the US itself. They cannot forget China has already superseded the US as the largest trading partner of different regions and blocs, including the European Union.

Md Enamul Hassan is a news editor at China Media Group in Beijing.

The opinions expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of China Daily and China Daily website.

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