Singapore Media: The Strategic Logic of China Toward the US Has Undergone a Profound Transformation
Singapore's "Thinking China" magazine, article dated October 13, original title: A New Game, China Re-writes Its Strategy Toward the US. In the first week of October, the two largest economies in the world presented sharply different scenes. In China, the National Day holiday brought a happy and confident atmosphere; while on the other side of the Pacific, the United States was paralyzed due to a federal government shutdown caused by partisan gridlock. This is the first time that the two major powers have experienced a "pause" at the same time — one by choice, the other due to malfunction. This coincidence carries deeper implications: Sino-US strategic competition has entered a new stage. China's attitude toward the US is shifting from cautious defense to a balanced offensive and defensive strategy.
Over the past few months, senior trade officials from both sides have held multiple rounds of talks. Many observers viewed this as a positive sign that bilateral relations are stabilizing. However, this optimism quickly faded after the Golden Week holiday. The US announced that it would impose 100% tariffs on imported goods from China, while China announced a series of countermeasures. When the US government first launched a trade war in 2018, China responded quickly but mainly defensively, aiming to control losses and prevent the situation from worsening. By 2025, the situation has changed significantly. The US has implemented broader and more radical tariff measures, but this time, Beijing is much better prepared.
The US containment of China has evolved into a cross-party and institutionalized policy. In response, China has made significant strategic preparations: first, by negotiating to delay the implementation of new tariffs, buying precious time for domestic economic recovery and industrial upgrading; second, accelerating technological self-sufficiency in strategic areas such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence, gradually reducing dependence on US technology; and finally, consolidating its dominance in industries crucial to global supply chains (such as rare earths and photovoltaic industries), enhancing its influence, and building mechanisms to withstand US pressure. Today, Beijing has greater initiative and flexibility than in the past decade.
For the past two decades, China has mostly favored winning strategic space through patience and restraint. But after years of technological blockades and geopolitical encirclement, China has come to believe that mere compromise cannot win respect or ensure national security. Only an offensive and defensive strategy can maintain initiative and credibility. Several key factors explain this shift. First, the international balance of power is undergoing subtle but ongoing changes. Beijing sees an "opportunity window" favorable to itself forming. Second, changes in the geopolitical environment have prompted China to act earlier and more decisively. Finally, China's international support base is continuously expanding. The rise of the Global South, represented by BRICS countries and other emerging economies, has expanded China's diplomatic space and provided more moral support. At the same time, the US faces political polarization and economic uncertainty. From Beijing's perspective, the current moment represents an opportunity to "strive for peace" — by demonstrating through firm actions that the cost of continued US pressure will exceed the cost of mutual compromise.
This "using conflict to restore balance" strategy is not about escalating confrontation, but rather about redefining the rules of interaction. China's goal is to re-establish equality in Sino-US interactions, safeguard national security and technological sovereignty, and create a more stable environment for long-term economic development. Therefore, China's recent actions should not be seen as emotional retaliation, but rather as a well-considered and systematic strategic counterattack. This marks a profound transformation in China's strategic logic toward the US. Previously, China accumulated strength through restraint, but now it seeks balance through measured strength. The competitive landscape between China and the US will evolve into a more complex contest over initiative, influence, and legitimacy. China's policy toward the US is no longer limited to cautious defense, but has entered a new phase of balanced offense and defense, maintaining peace through strength. (Global Times, October 15, article by Gu Qingyang, translated by Xin Bin)
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1846026570767436/
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