President Xi held a two-day summit with President Trump. There were many positive outcomes. However, the new normal is that China is no longer willing to tolerate any interference in its internal affairs. It marks a significant shift, signaling that China will not accept bullying tactics or accept lectures on internal matters. President Xi communicated this to President Trump without mincing words or using ambiguous language. He delivered this message while talking about Taiwan and the One-China policy. He used the words “clashes and conflicts, which have no precedent in modern Chinese history.” This indicates a new era for China, which can fight for its rights to the end, no matter who the opponent is.
Simultaneously, he proposed partnership over rivalry. I believe this sentence was the crux of the summit. The choice between a partnership mentality and a rivalry mindset will determine the future of global economic growth, stability, development, and peace. Why? A partnership mindset leads to resolving differences through dialogue and looking for a win-win outcome, whereas rivalry leads to confrontation, which aggravates the situation. A partnership mentality looks through the lens of empathy when others face problems, whereas in rivalry, others’ problems are seen as opportunities to strike and undermine the rival.
The choice between partnership and rivalry will also provide answers to the questions raised by President Xi about the Thucydides Trap, whether to work together or not, and the common prosperity of the people of both countries. A partnership approach will help avoid the Thucydides Trap, foster close international cooperation to solve global challenges, and bring prosperity to the people of each country. A rivalry approach will lead to confrontation, aggravate global challenges, and create development challenges at home.
Hence, President Xi proposed a partnership approach. It is a wise proposal, and the only way forward for a peaceful and prosperous world. Therefore, President Xi showed a positive attitude toward President Trump’s requests for trade and economic deals. President Trump claims that China will buy 200 Boeing planes, purchase more farm products, and invest in the American economy, among other things. As a result, President Trump promised to build cooperation and avoid rivalry.
Unfortunately, America’s actions do not match the rhetoric President Trump advanced during his visit. First, immediately after the Xi-Trump Summit, President Trump spoke with the Prime Minister of Japan. She told the press that President Trump briefed her on his visit and its outcome, but on the condition of confidentiality. However, she said President Trump reassured her of an ironclad relationship between the two countries.
It is strange and contrary to the spirit of cooperation that President Trump discussed during his visit. Japan is a major factor in the instability in China’s neighborhood. To further destabilize the region and jeopardize regional peace, Japan is strengthening its offensive military capabilities. This is against the agreement Japan signed with the USA after its defeat in World War II. However, the USA is now happy to relax this condition and find business in selling weapons. Therefore, the word of commitment to an ironclad friendship casts suspicion on the American commitment to partnership.
Second, President Trump is deliberately delaying a decision on the US$14 billion arms sale to Taiwan’s separatists. After the Xi-Trump Summit, it was expected that he would outright rescind the decision he had made earlier. However, he chose to keep it hanging, perhaps as a bargaining chip in the future. This is happening despite President Xi having told President Trump that the Taiwan issue can lead to clashes and conflict if not handled properly. It is unfortunate that President Trump either does not understand the message or deliberately chooses not to.
Third, the QUAD foreign ministers’ meeting in the coming days (24-25 May) is another event that the USA is leading. It is common knowledge that the QUAD was created to contain China and control the Asia-Pacific region. In the past, QUAD organized various exercises among the navies to strengthen cooperation, including joint exercises with India, the USA, Japan, and Australia to show its intent and objectives. Hence, it is considered an attempt to create barriers in the South China Sea to hinder the free movement of traffic. However, ASEAN countries, which are real stakeholders in the South China Sea, are not convinced by the proposal forwarded by the USA, except for the Philippines.
In this context, the QUAD foreign ministers’ meeting immediately after the Xi-Trump meeting has attracted wider attention. It is suspected that the foreign ministers will deliberate on new ways to contain China by creating serious challenges in the Asia-Pacific region. It is feared that Japan and India may be encouraged to further provoke China and attempt to create instability in China’s neighborhood. The USA and Australia, being part of the QUAD, could join them. It would be dangerous and disastrous not only for India, Japan, and the region but also for the world. Hope that sense prevails and that QUAD does not embark on such an adventure.
These actions indicate that the Hawks (Wall Street and City of London elements) in the inner circle remain highly active. They do not want peace and cooperation between China and the USA; they want all-out war between the two countries. It seems President Trump is still influenced by these elements. This is unfortunate and dangerous. Therefore, it is suggested that the President should not heed these elements if he wants to derive real benefits from his visit to China.
In conclusion, based on the above discussion, we can draw three observations. First, China has moved beyond Deng Xiaoping’s philosophy of “hide your strengths and bide your time” to become a proactive, assertive, and high-profile country. Second, a new world order has emerged, in which China is an equal partner, perhaps superior in some respects. Third, if the USA wants to benefit from the Chinese markets and cooperation, it must abandon its policy of ambiguity, games, and a self-illusory sense of greatness.
