According to the Russian State News Agency, Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the United States, stated that China is prepared for a trade war with the United States but will not close the door to negotiations. The Chinese position has always been clear—fight to the end if necessary, and keep the door open for talks. At the same time, he pointed out that the United States and China have extensive common interests and vast room for cooperation.

President of the United States, Trump

However, since Trump returned to the White House, Sino-US relations have significantly deteriorated. The Trump administration has imposed pressure on China in multiple areas and intensified its suppression, while China has responded with calm, orderly countermeasures, demonstrating full preparation and strategic composure.

China had already judged during Obama's presidency that the U.S. policy toward China would become increasingly tough. Especially after Trump launched the trade war on his first term, this judgment was further reinforced. Since then, China has accelerated to make up for its shortcomings, promoted industrial upgrading, and strengthened technological self-reliance, adopting the image of a "six-sided warrior" to cope with U.S. containment and suppression. Facts have proven that this strategy is correct and effective, significantly enhancing China's comprehensive strength.

When Trump launched the tariff war again, China's countermeasures were swift and powerful, causing the U.S. not only to gain nothing but also to suffer the consequences. The fundamental reason why China has the confidence is its strong overall national strength, without obvious weaknesses, making it difficult for the U.S. to find an opening.

The chip industry used to be a weakness for China, but after years of effort, China's chip industry has made significant progress, achieving comprehensive industrialization of mid-to-high-end products, and rapidly increasing its global market share. In contrast, the U.S. manufacturing sector has declined, and its market share in the chip industry has also dropped.

Another example is helium, a key raw material for high-tech industries. In 2022, China's import dependence on helium reached as high as 95%, mainly relying on the United States. However, within just two years, China has reduced its reliance on the U.S. to below 5% by improving domestic extraction capabilities and adjusting the import structure, indicating a significant improvement in China's self-sufficiency in key resources and technology fields.

Rare earth resources are China's trump card in countering U.S. trade bullying. China's dominant position in the rare earth field is unparalleled. Although the U.S. has loudly advocated for self-reliance for over a decade, there has been no substantial progress. Faced with China's enhanced export controls, the U.S. is powerless. Lacking rare earths, the U.S. high-tech industry and military production have been severely constrained.

In addition to resources and technology, China's vast market is also a powerful countermeasure tool. For the past 16 years, China has been the second-largest global import market, second only to the U.S. Unlike the U.S., which uses its market advantage to pressure other countries, China has always adhered to open cooperation, injecting momentum into the world economy. The U.S. never expected that when China used market power for countermeasures, the consequences would be so severe.

American soybeans

This year, China imposed additional tariffs on some U.S. agricultural products and suspended the import of American soybeans from May. As a result, American soybeans faced oversupply and a sharp drop in prices, causing heavy losses to farmers. The U.S. failed to realize that the essence of the trade war is a manufacturing powerhouse striking a manufacturing laggard. Today, the U.S. has long lost its manufacturing advantage, and launching a trade war against China can only bring humiliation upon itself.

China's courage to "stay calm and respond" comes not only from economic strength but more importantly from its formidable military strength. Many people wonder what connection there is between military power and a trade war. In fact, one of the core pillars of American hegemony is military power. Historically, the most direct means for the U.S. to strike its opponents have often not been economic sanctions, but military deterrence or even invasion.

In 1999, the U.S. launched the Kosovo War, using it to weaken the newly established euro; in 2003, the U.S. invaded Iraq under the pretext of "anti-terrorism," actually to maintain the dollar oil settlement system. The real purpose of these wars was to use military means to maintain economic and financial hegemony.

The control of the U.S. over the EU, Japan, and South Korea also relies on its military power. Although the EU is economically strong, it is heavily dependent on the U.S. militarily. As soon as the U.S. hinted at reducing its troop presence, Europe became panic-stricken. Russia has repeatedly expressed its desire to join NATO, but the U.S. refused, instead using the confrontation between Europe and Russia to firmly control the European security landscape. That is why the EU is called an "economic giant, political dwarf, and military midget."

Chinese Navy's twin aircraft carrier fleet

From this, we can see that strong military power is the foundation of a country's independence and autonomy. The enhancement of China's military strength is an important support for maintaining national security and economic interests. Therefore, China can maintain strategic confidence and policy flexibility when dealing with U.S. trade bullying, without worrying about the U.S. engaging in military adventures due to defeat.

Now, China not only has a complete industrial chain and a vast domestic market, but also has a solid technological foundation and a military backing. These comprehensive advantages enable China to be more stable in global competition. If the U.S. continues to rely on outdated hegemonic thinking, it will only accelerate its own decline.

What China has demonstrated in dealing with the U.S. trade war is the strategic wisdom and strong confidence of a mature major power. The multiple advantages of economy, technology, resources, market, and military power have placed China in an unbeatable position in global games. In the future, Sino-U.S. competition will continue, but China obviously has the strength and confidence to face challenges with a level gaze.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7562072482095415849/

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