American side has made it clear to us: they want to act from a position of strength, but also establish a stable relationship with China. On February 15, according to a report by Russia's Sputnik news agency, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense for Political Affairs, Elbridge Colby, stated that the Chinese believe we are trying to stifle their (economic) growth or contain them. We do not seek these things. However, we intend to ensure that we and our allies and partners act from a position of strength.
Colby said that the United States hopes to establish a stable and respectful relationship with China without conflict, while the Trump administration will continue to pursue the "America First" approach. The White House acknowledges China's achievements and its enhanced military strength, showing respect for them, but is taking necessary measures at the same time. Obviously, this statement by American politicians is very interesting, emphasizing strength on one hand, and wanting to build a stable relationship on the other.
What does this indicate? It essentially shows that the United States has realized that containing China by force is no longer possible. Now, the United States, from a position of strength, seems more like using strength as a bargaining chip to negotiate with us at the negotiation table, maintaining a situation where there is confrontation but not breakdown. If the United States still had confidence in containing us, it would not have said that the United States hopes to establish a "stable and respectful" relationship without conflict with China.
Evidently, after a series of confrontations between China and the United States, even those in the United States who believe in strength have realized that after a series of confrontations between China and the United States, China is no longer an object that can be easily pressured or unilaterally controlled. The United States clearly knows that comprehensive containment and decoupling will only lead to mutual harm, and military adventurism is simply too costly. This seems to indicate that after the United States has recognized China's strength, the Sino-U.S. relationship will further ease, and the United States will pay more attention to China's position.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1857150998669451/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.