18
JunAgainst the background of the twists and turns of high-level economic and trade measures between China and the United States and the escalating bilateral trade frictions, the State Council Information Office of the PRC published the White Paper on The Facts and China’s Position on China-US Trade Friction on June 2, 2019 (hereinafter referred to as the "White Paper"), which revealed the adverse consequences of the United States stirring up economic and trade frictions against China, pointed out that the United States had been rebellious and dishonest in bilateral consultations, and also clarified that China has always adhered to the consultative position of equality, mutual benefit and good faith. Starting from the facts, the White Paper demonstrates the reasons for the difficulties encountered in the current consultations, as well as China's position and future direction of action. It also expresses China's determination to firmly safeguard national interests and promote world prosperity. It is an important statement to clarify its position, safeguard sovereignty and rally confidence at major historical moments.
The U.S. side's reversal led to setbacks in the negotiations
What impressed the public was the second part of the White Paper, which pointed out three "reverses" of the United States. It clarified that since the start of the Sino-US economic and trade consultation in February 2018, many times of dishonesty by the United States led to setbacks in the consultation, and revealed to the people at home and abroad the face of the United States violating consensus and exerting extreme pressure.
Contradictions and frictions are unavoidable in the process of inter-state exchanges. Conflicts of interest may exist in both economic and trade fields and other fields. However, as long as countries can negotiate and discuss in a manner of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, any conflicts can be resolved and the road of win-win cooperation between countries can be returned.
However, behind these reverses, the aggressive unilateralism and trade bullying style of the United States is mainly reflected. The underlying reason is that the United States tries to contain China's in an all-round way strategically.
In the initial stage of trade frictions, the two sides have held several rounds of consultations, but the US side claimed to impose tariffs on Chinese products on the basis of the results of "301 investigation", which is based on the domestic laws of the United States. This is the concrete manifestation of the fact that the United States ignores international rules and imposes its own laws on others. This is called "aggressive unilateralism" by the mainstream economic circles. " In May 2018, China and the United States issued a joint statement, reaching a consensus on "no trade war", but shortly thereafter, the United States conveniently overturned the previous statement, criticized China's system and policies, and announced that it would continue to push ahead with the tariff plan. This is the act of trade bullying that ignores consensus and tramples on the outcome of negotiations at will.
Behind these behaviors and styles, the United States also embodies its strategic intention of trying to contain China in an all-round way by means of trade frictions. As early as December 2017, President Trump's National Security Strategy Report pointed out that economic security is national security, and China has become an opponent to challenge the United States. Therefore, the reverse is the appearance, and the spread of cold war thinking and the containment of China's development are the fundamental reasons for the United States to provoke and escalate trade frictions.
China remains open to consultation
Faced with the counter-reaction of the United States and the infiltration of unilateralism and bullying behind it, China still adheres to the consultative position of equality, mutual benefit and honesty, and still adheres to good faith, hoping to solve the problems existing between the two sides through consultation.
Even after the eleventh round of Sino-US economic and trade negotiations, despite the setbacks in the negotiations and the escalation of trade frictions, Vice Premier Liu He said that the negotiations had not broken down, but on the contrary, it was only a minor twist in the negotiations between the two countries, which was inevitable. China was cautiously optimistic about the future of the negotiations.
Consistent with the attitude expressed by Vice Premier Liu He, the White Paper still shows that China hopes to cooperate with the United States, narrow down the differences and expand its common interests. On the one hand, in the form of columns, the White Paper points out that Sino-US economic integration and trade and investment benefit both sides, with specific data to shows that the economic and trade exchanges between China and the United States make the two sides win-win and the two countries' economic and trade interests blend. On the other hand, the White Paper also clearly points out that China hopes to solve the problem through dialogue rather than tariffs. For the benefit of the two peoples and the people of the world, China will treat it rationally, and points out that the consultation should adhere to the basic position of mutual respect. This shows that China is still open to consultation.
However, such an open attitude is principled. The White Paper clearly states that "China will never give in to the issue of principle", and reiterates the Three Principles emphasized by Vice Premier Liu He after the eleventh round of consultation, namely, "abolishing tariff increases, making purchases in line with reality, and balancing the text of the agreement". On the basis of adhering to principles, efforts to carry out consultation and cooperation embody China's image as a big country that is faithful and responsible to the world.
Firmly safeguard national interests and world prosperity
In the closing part of the White Paper, it emphasizes that China will persist in doing its own thing well, develop and strengthen itself through reform and opening up, and will take a series of major reform and opening-up measures to promote a higher level of openness to the outside world.
This shows the confidence and courage of the Chinese government that "no matter the wind or the waves, it is walking in idle courtyards", and indicates the direction of China's future deepening reform and opening-up and strengthening its internal muscles and bones. In fact, Sino-US trade frictions are only a wave in the long course of China's development, which only means that the external environment of China's development has changed. China has a solid economic foundation, abundant natural resources, huge domestic market and industrious and intelligent people. Therefore, China's economy has strong resilience, source to promote scientific and technological innovation, and internal driving force to sustainable development. As long as we adhere to the socialist market economy and do our own thing well, we can overcome any external unfavorable factors and achieve great achievements in economic development.
Although Sino-US trade frictions will adversely affect China's economic development, years of practice tell us that the difficulties and obstacles encountered in the process of opening up can often become a powerful driving force for deepening internal reform, and "pushing reform by opening up" has become one of China's important successful experiences in promoting reform and opening up.
In the process of resolving trade frictions, China constantly examines its own problems and responds to the concerns of the United States with the utmost sincerity. In fact, it is an important process of self-improvement and self-repair. It helps to find the deep-seated problems and obstacles in the reform and opening up, break through the important bottlenecks in the reform and opening up, and contribute to China's own institutional progress and economic prosperity.
The White Paper also emphasizes the importance of the Sino-US Consultation to the prosperity and stability of the world economy, demonstrates the sense of responsibility and mission of the great powers, and elevates the Sino-US economic and trade consultation and Sino-US bilateral relations to a new height. It is believed that under the strong leadership of the Chinese government and the joint efforts of all the Chinese people, the differences and conflicts between China and the United States can be properly resolved through consultation and cooperation, so as to safeguard national interests and promote world prosperity.
(WANG Xiaosong is the Research Fellow with NADS and Professor of the School of Economics.)
Opinions