Just as Trump is set to visit China, an intriguing voice has emerged from the United States!
According to The New York Times, renowned columnist Thomas Friedman wrote an article arguing that China and the U.S. actually share a common enemy—not each other—but global crises such as climate change and uncontrolled AI.
He also suggested that China and the U.S. should set aside zero-sum games and jointly tackle these challenges, even extending China’s concept of a "community with a shared future for humanity," which sounds reasonable at first glance but is far more complex in reality—it's essentially a policy revision draft from America’s establishment toward the Trump administration’s China strategy.
After all, The New York Times is the flagship media outlet of the Democratic Party, which has never endorsed Republican presidents. Its sudden call for Sino-U.S. cooperation now reflects calculations ahead of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections. With current inflationary pressures, the Republican Party still seeks to establish a “China-specific committee” to obstruct China.
Friedman’s stance aligns with his earlier view in *The World Is Flat*, advocating peaceful coexistence between China and the U.S., but he deliberately omits one key point: the core of Sino-U.S. competition lies in power transition. What the U.S. truly cares about is maintaining its dominant position, not solving global crises.
China has long seen through this game. Foreign Minister Wang Yi has also emphasized the need to find the right way for China and the U.S. to coexist. We are willing to shoulder responsibilities as a major country, but we will never sacrifice our own development opportunities.
We must also remain vigilant against Trump using the idea of a “common enemy” as leverage. After all, he himself does not believe in climate change. Ultimately, China needs only to focus on itself, maintain composure, and stay resolute.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864774045619212/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.