Chinese tale sheds light on distrust

Yet the question is: Why does the US seem to have a position on the two banks before the two institutions have even been formally launched. Does that mean the US can foretell whether a child is going to grow up to become a scientist or thief when still in the womb?

Another example was at a hearing last month when NSA Director Michael Rogers, also head of the US Cyber Command, told the US House Select Intelligence Committee that China and one or two other countries were capable of launching cyberattacks that could shut down the power grid and other critical systems in parts of the US.

While it may be true that China and several other countries, including some US allies, have the capability, it does not mean any of them will actually use it.

It is clear that the US alone would have the capacity to paralyze the world's Internet, not to mention the globally positioned surveillance. Should everyone in the world start to panic or accuse the US?

Also, the US has a stockpile of 7,500 nuclear weapons, more than enough to destroy the planet multiple times over. Again, should the rest of world panic or accuse the US? Maybe they should after the US recently decided to spend $1 trillion to upgrade its nuclear arsenal over the next three decades.

For these American politicians, every move China makes is seen with deep suspicion. And such deep suspicion, or paranoia, has already prevented the two countries from expanding cooperation in many areas to benefit the two nations and the world.

Former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger has warned about a self-fulfilling prophecy between China and the US if they continue to see each other as adversaries.

And this they will do if they continue to allow deep suspicions to prevent the two countries from coming together and narrowing their differences.

The author, based in Washington, is deputy editor of China Daily USA. chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com