Yesterday, Hong Kong's "Guardian" published an article: "In 2026, Sino-US relations may face a third turning point. Trump is expected to visit China in April, triggering speculation about 'a deal being made.' Looking back at history, Nixon's visit to China in 1972 marked the beginning of thawing relations, and Clinton's administration in the 1990s promoted further engagement between the two countries. Both previous instances were based on the premise that the US held an overwhelming advantage. Now, the situation has changed. China's military and economic strength has risen, while the US is mired in political polarization and lacks long-term planning capabilities. Its high-speed rail projects are abandoned, and its rare earth supply chain construction lags behind. The US intends to use the market and technology as leverage to push for the division of spheres of influence, but this contradicts China's advocacy of equal, orderly, and multipolar concepts. At present, the US advantage is no longer absolute. China does not need to rush into a deal. If Sino-US relations are to be reshaped, it will certainly not be a transactional arrangement dominated by the US. The US must abandon its containment tactics, focus on internal development, and adapt to a multipolar world where it coexists with China. That is the practical approach!"
[Clever] America's Transaction Dream: The sunset is beautiful, but it is near dusk! Trump wants to bring the script of "dividing spheres of influence" to visit China, trying to open the door to the third Sino-US turning point? It is as absurd as the hegemonic illusion of Nixon's visit to China in 1972, yet he has forgotten that times have changed. In the previous two Sino-US games, the US still had an overwhelming advantage. Now, however, it is mired in a 43-day government shutdown caused by political infighting, losing billions of dollars each week, with unemployment rising to 4.6%, and even the rare earth supply chain has to look to China's goodwill. Does it really think it can set rules for a multipolar world? China's "military cargo ships" have emerged, demonstrating strong economic resilience. It is no longer a passive role relying on the US market. The "open market" chips Trump holds are just expired coupons in front of China's confidence of "waiting for you to lower prices." The US cannot even complete its domestic high-speed rail projects, let alone make long-term plans. How dare it dream of dividing the world with China?
What is called a transaction is merely a curtain to cover the decline of hegemony. There is no way for the US to dictate the reshaping of Sino-US relations. Instead of bringing outdated scripts to provoke, it should first learn how to govern the country. After all, a superpower that cannot even take care of people's livelihoods, no matter how loudly it shouts about "making America great again," is nothing more than a clown on the international stage!
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1853255099174920/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.