China sees trade war as US deterrence tactic
(Baonghean.vn) - For nearly two weeks, China's top leaders have not appeared in public, as they are holding meetings at the remote seaside resort of Beidaihe, Hebei Province, eastern China.
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| China sees the trade war as a US deterrence tactic. Photo: AP |
Although the annual summer meeting of China’s leadership in Beidaihe is always held in secret, the agenda is likely to be dominated by the trade war with the United States, as well as the emerging view that escalating tensions between the two countries go beyond trade and economic disputes.
There are growing signs that the trade dispute is part of Washington's attempt to contain China's rise to greater power.
While Beijing is willing to continue dialogue with Washington, sending Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen to the US for talks this month, initial optimism about finding a quick solution has been replaced by a stronger resolve.
Observers say it is unlikely that Wang Shouwen will achieve a breakthrough beyond paving the way for further negotiations. “President Trump is very confident now, and China should not show any sign of giving in,” said a former Chinese trade official. “Beijing needs to show confidence and be steadfast, resisting President Trump’s maximum challenges. Making too many concessions in the early stages will only make President Trump more provocative.”
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| Washington's intention is to contain China's rise to greater power. Photo: Getty |
Before and during the Beidaihe meeting, Chinese state media published a series of editorials and commentaries taking a harsher stance on China-US relations.
The People's Daily published an editorial on August 10, saying that the Trump administration continues its "engagement plus deterrence" approach to China, hoping to significantly reshape China's development from the US perspective.
“A review of the trade negotiations with the US shows that the Trump administration is full of contradictions, ambivalence and erratic behavior. However, the reasoning behind it is quite clear: Washington does not intend to narrow the trade deficit, but rather wants to contain China in broader areas,” the paper said. Another commentary published in the People’s Daily on August 12 said that the US is seeking hegemony and China needs to fight back.
Along with trade, a long list of security and other disputes with the United States has left Chinese President Xi Jinping in a dilemma, said Cheng Li, a China expert at the Brookings Institution in Washington. “If it were just on the economic and trade front, the Chinese leadership would be willing to compromise,” he said.
Both Cheng Li and former US ambassador to China Stapleton Roy said that while there is no evidence that Xi Jinping’s position as the country’s all-powerful leader is under threat, despite mounting criticism of his approach to the US, the Chinese leader could face unprecedented pressure at the Beidaihe meeting.
These challenges include “confrontation with the United States and resistance within China to the direction that the Chinese Communist Party is trying to take to restore complete party control over everything,” said Mr. Roy.
