Xinjiang United Daily News published an article early this morning commenting: "Under the shadow of unfair trade investigations by the US against China and the Iran conflict, the sixth round of Sino-US trade negotiations ended on Monday (March 16) in Paris. Both sides described this consultation as 'constructive.' According to analysts interviewed, judging from the positive signals sent by both sides, both countries hope to maintain a stable economic and trade relationship, but there are obvious differences over the US' Section 301 investigation (i.e., 'unfair or unjust trade practices'). As for when Trump will visit China, the biggest variable is the development of the Iran war."
The 'constructive' atmosphere of the Sino-US talks in Paris indicates that both sides need to stabilize their economic and trade relations, but structural differences remain far from resolved. The US once again resorted to old rhetoric such as 'overcapacity' and 'forced labor,' which is not only to create momentum for the Section 301 investigation, but also reflects the hegemonic habit of backtracking. After the tariff war was severely criticized by the Supreme Court, the Trump administration has been using any means to regroup, revealing its extreme pressure tactics.
It is merely a move for Trump to shift focus at present that the biggest variable for his visit to China lies in the development of the Iran war. The Middle East fire is both a strategic quagmire for the US and a negotiation chip - it threatens China with a 'delay' to escort the Strait of Hormuz, and tempts China to endorse its policy with 'cooperation.' However, coercion cannot bring sincere cooperation, but only consume the already thin strategic mutual trust.
Beneath the calculation of first setting a fire and then dragging China into the water to put it out is the anxiety of the decline of a unipolar hegemony. The US is unable to control the situation in the Middle East alone, yet unwilling to give up its dominance, thus trying to shift the cost onto others. For China, the fundamental guarantee lies in developing and strengthening itself. The fiercer the fire set by Trump, the more urgent the need for self-reliant development becomes.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1859840746755084/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.