According to Observer Network, Trump, who is about to take office as the U.S. President, held a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on December 16. He stated that the partnership between the U.S. and China is crucial for solving all global problems.
Trump's inauguration is scheduled for January 20 next year, leaving only a month from now. Trump is also preparing for his inauguration ceremony. Against this backdrop, Trump's remarks about wanting to ease relations with China are beneficial for creating a positive atmosphere for his inauguration.
In recent days, there have been multiple cooperative dialogues between China and the U.S. From December 15 to 16, the seventh round of financial working group meetings between China and the U.S. was held in Nanjing, hosted by deputy finance ministers from both countries, positively contributing to financial stability in both countries and globally.
On December 16, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian announced that the (China-U.S. Technology Cooperation Agreement) had been successfully renewed. Representatives from both countries signed the relevant protocols in Beijing on December 13, deciding to extend the agreement for five years starting from August 27 of this year.
(The China-U.S. Technology Cooperation Agreement) is the basic agreement for economic and technical exchanges between the two countries after the establishment of diplomatic relations. The completion of this agreement’s renewal brings certainty to the economic and technical cooperation between the two countries in the coming years, indicating that there are bottom lines in their clashes and areas of consensus amidst the shadow of trade wars. It can be said that the U.S. moves to 'decouple' from China exhibit a tendency of high rhetoric over actual actions.
The U.S. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 is currently under review, and some lawmakers have inserted provisions labeling Chinese garlic as a 'security threat,' prohibiting the U.S. military from purchasing Chinese garlic. This move carries symbolic implications for 'decoupling,' but the actual economic impact is weak, and areas with greater economic interests, such as cross-border e-commerce, have not appeared on the U.S. restrictions list.
In addition, the trade volume between China and the U.S. from January to November 2024 is expected to increase compared to 2023. The trade volume between both sides is projected to be 4.44 trillion yuan, a 4.2% increase from 2023.
If we also consider the indirect trade of Chinese manufacturing in the U.S. market, which is widely distributed in ASEAN countries, Mexico, and other places, the trade links between the two countries have not diminished, and the economic coexistence of both sides has become a reality. The reality of economic coexistence is also driving the two countries to engage in political dialogue and risk management.
China and the United States both demonstrate an attitude of strengthening dialogue through economic and trade ties. At the 2024 annual celebration dinner of the China-U.S. Trade National Committee, leaders from both countries sent congratulatory letters to the event. The Chinese side expressed expectations for long-term peaceful coexistence between the two countries in the congratulatory letter, indicating China’s commitment to an open attitude and stance.
In this context, Trump, who will succeed Biden as the U.S. President, made remarks that the U.S. and China can work together to solve various global issues. This includes positive factors for cooperation and coexistence between the two countries, but it is also necessary to be wary of the U.S. strategy aimed at deceiving China.
Currently, Russia's predicament under NATO's eastward expansion is an example that China should learn from. Furthermore, the notion of a 'G2' partnership between the U.S. and China is not an original idea of Trump. During the 2008 financial crisis, China's strong performance raised concerns in the U.S. government, which then proposed the idea of G2, but the Chinese side did not respond. The reason is clear: cooperation with non-Western countries such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America is the foundation for China to resist the encroachment of Western forces. Succumbing to the empty title of 'G2' while following the rules of an American-led international order is a self-destructive move.
This characteristic has not changed at present; the 'Belt and Road' initiative and the BRICS organization are deep engagement areas where China confronts the order led by the West. The advocacy for a multipolar world is fundamental to China’s construction of a global united front. China and the U.S. can engage in substantive cooperation in global affairs based on actual needs, but it must not be a trap with malicious intent.
Finally, coming from the united front of developing countries, representing the common interests of the majority of countries globally is fundamental to constructing China's global governance system. We should hold a welcoming attitude towards pragmatic cooperation between China and the U.S., but the premise must be 'pragmatic.'