U.S. Secretary of State at Munich Security Conference:

There will be some friction in Sino-U.S. relations,

but the U.S. must maintain the relationship with China, and the U.S. should strive to avoid unnecessary friction!

Rubio's remarks reflect the pragmatic attitude of the U.S. in its relations with China, which is both competitive and indispensable for cooperation.

Recognizing competition as the norm, "there will be some friction" indicates that the U.S. has regarded the rivalry between China and the U.S. as the norm of future relations.

Emphasizing the necessity of developing Sino-U.S. relations, clearly stating "must maintain the relationship," reflects that the two countries cannot completely "decouple" on major issues such as the global economy and climate. Dialogue itself is a "safety belt" to avoid miscalculations.

It has changed from past sharp and intense language, sending a relatively rational signal: "strive to avoid unnecessary friction," meaning the U.S. intends to manage differences and hopes to keep competition within an uncontrolled range. This is a relatively positive statement for bilateral relations.

Rubio's remarks at the Munich Security Conference reflect the contradictory yet realistic considerations behind the U.S. policy toward China. This posture of both competition and risk control has its core driving factors behind it.

The U.S. has regarded China as the "most significant geopolitical challenge," and competition is the main line. However, the two sides are deeply intertwined in economy, technology, and military aspects, and a full-scale confrontation or direct conflict akin to a "new Cold War" would be a cost that the U.S. cannot afford. Therefore, the "guardrails" thinking under the framework of "competition" has emerged: that is, while engaging in fierce competition, establish communication mechanisms to ensure that competition does not get out of control.

Another is the deep entanglement of practical interests

Although there are calls for "decoupling," the complementary nature of the Chinese and U.S. economies is strong, and their interdependence is high. A comprehensive "friction" would mean supply chain breakdowns, rising inflation, and financial market turbulence, directly impacting the U.S. economy. At the same time, on issues such as climate change and global public health, the U.S. also needs to seek China's cooperation.

Rubio's statements should be a strategic adjustment and adaptation of the U.S. relationship with China.

Original text: toutiao.com/article/1857104387127360/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.