By Sanxuan

The China-US economic and trade talks in Kuala Lumpur have ended, and Trump solemnly stated that he would reach a "comprehensive agreement" with China. But before the words had even left his mouth, he was already slapped in the face by his own people.

President of the United States Donald Trump

Tansen, a former diplomat at the U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai, stated that the China-U.S. trade war was initiated by Trump, and the current situation the U.S. is in is entirely self-inflicted. If Trump really wants to reach an agreement with China, merely making concessions is far from enough; he needs to go back to the state before the tariff war, that is, before April this year.

Tansen further explained that during Trump's first term, China mainly adopted equivalent countermeasures, usually responding to American policies with equivalent actions.

Now, although China still primarily uses equivalent countermeasures, it also has some upgraded responses, such as the new regulations on rare earth exports that greatly frustrated the Trump administration. Tansen pointed out that China is no longer passively retaliating but has taken some initiative, making Trump realize the serious consequences of instigating a trade war.

In fact, not only going back to before this April, but even going back to 2018, everything cannot return to the original point. These past few years have been enough for the Chinese people and the whole world to see the true face of the United States. The current U.S. has very little credibility left.

China-US talks achieved results

Even if an agreement is eventually reached, we must remain vigilant and be wary of any underhanded moves by the U.S. Reaching an agreement is not the hardest part; maintaining and fulfilling the agreement is. And Trump has always been prone to reversing his decisions.

With the APEC Summit approaching, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has become increasingly uneasy. Recently, Yoon spoke to U.S. media, stating that opposing China is not a good choice, and dialogue and negotiations should be strengthened, seemingly reminding Trump that when dealing with China, he should not be so aggressive.

The background to Yoon's remarks is that the U.S. recently took measures in multiple areas, including maritime issues, and some South Korean companies were involved. In response, China immediately took countermeasures, firmly opposing South Korean companies colluding with the U.S. to harm Chinese interests.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol

Helping the wicked may not be the intention of South Korea, as its foreign policy is formulated based on the U.S.-South Korea alliance. However, once something is done, it's done. Yoon told reporters with some helplessness that this is how China exerts pressure, and if the U.S. does not stop the confrontation, it might happen again in the future.

In other words, when China and the U.S. fight, South Korea suffers. South Korea is caught between the two superpowers. If it doesn't listen to the U.S., it will definitely face Trump's retaliation; but if it helps the U.S. against China, it will also suffer backlash. Yet, it can't avoid doing so.

Therefore, Yoon can only hope for a China-U.S. reconciliation, which would resolve the diplomatic dilemma that has plagued South Korea. It won't have to bear the brunt from both sides and might even be able to take advantage of both sides to support South Korea.

Trump meets with Yoon Suk-yeol at the White House

However, to be fair, South Korea is not as innocent as Yoon claims. Although balancing between major powers is difficult, it's not impossible. The key lies in whether the leader has sufficient political wisdom and determination.

Evidently, Yoon is not as capable as his former leader, Moon Jae-in. Setting aside the impact of the Sino-U.S. confrontation on South Korea, South Korea itself is also facing extortion from the U.S. The promised $35 billion investment has yet to materialize. With Trump about to visit South Korea, all we can do is wish Yoon good luck.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7565803185810571827/

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