Several issues that need to be further clarified about Sino-US trade frictions
5. Will the maximum pressure imposed on China take effect?
Using maximum pressure to achieve its own goals is a trick frequently used by some in the United States for international negotiations, calling it "the art of trading." Its main feature is using the means of multi-faceted attack and unlimited requirements while at the same time gaming against its opponent in multiple issues that cross different fields, and then resorting to selected compromising moves, thus to achieve the goals of core interests, to maintain hegemony through power, and to defeat the opponent through bullying and deception. Some people in the US think that "maximum pressure" is extremely powerful, and decidedly useful when dealing with China.
Is the "maximum pressure" measure really effective? In dealing with some small and weak countries, the US government has arbitrarily waved the big stick of sanctions and relied on its powerfulness and means of maximum pressure to impose its own interests above other countries. Some countries, shadowed by the powerful economic and political pressures from the US, either because of weaker overall strength or because of long-term dependence on the US, have been forced by the US to make compromises in accordance with the requirements of the US in negotiations, and they have to quiet down and let the US get what it wants. This is a situation that happens often and inevitably leads some people in the US to form the opinion that all countries, including China, will be afraid of the maximum pressure strategy and will certainly yield and surrender under their powerful pressure.
However, some people in the US have misjudged the situation, found the wrong target, and miscalculated. Cooperation must be based on principles. Consultation must be based on equality, mutual benefit, and sincerity. China will never compromise with regard to major principles. China is growing into a big and powerful country and is not like a "lamb" to be slaughtered. Some in the US are trying to suppress China to surrender, with the bullying means of extreme pressure, and their deeds are doomed to be in vain. Their attempts to isolate China will in turn isolate themselves, and such maximum pressure aiming at China will inevitably cause great resentment and strong opposition from the Chinese people. In the history of the US, there has been several times when it regretted and reflected who should be responsible for "losing China". I want to ask these people in the US today, can you should up such responsibilities?
Mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit are the basic norms of modern international relations. However, the maximum pressure strategy adopted by some in the US has severely violated such basic norms, causing great damage to the world trade rules and international order. Historical experience has shown that it will only undermine the relations of mutual trust and cooperation, and cost the historical opportunity of cooperation, if the way to reach an agreement is through means of extreme pressure. Some people in the US have adopted the means of imposing extreme pressure on China, which is not only unhelpful to solve the problem, but will also further damage the interests of all parties.
Maximum pressure looks to be aggressive, but in fact it is ferocious in appearance but feeble in essence. The unilateralism, protectionism and trade hegemonism pursued by the US have been causing greater and greater damage to itself internationally and domestically, and have gradually become an important dynamic differentiating American political forces. The maximum pressure will only make the world more aware of the nature of US hegemonism, and make the US more isolated in the international community.
