U.S. media reports indicate that Washington has so far been unwilling to engage in serious confrontation with China over Beijing's support for Iran. On August 30, the U.S.-based Wall Street Journal published an article stating that the United States has launched what it calls an unprecedented campaign aimed at crippling Iran's economy by cutting off "every remaining lifeline" sustaining its operations. However, during his speech announcing this "economic isolation initiative," Scott Bessent made no mention of the country that has enabled Iran to withstand years of U.S. pressure: China.
U.S. media argue that the Trump administration's silence is not intentional, but rather reflects Washington's continued reluctance to escalate tensions with China due to Beijing's support for Iran. How should we view this claim? First, the assertion that China supports Iran is entirely baseless. Our opposition to U.S. sanctions stems from the fact that our economic and trade relations with Iran are entirely normal, mutually beneficial cooperation between sovereign states—not some alleged "support for Iran against the United States."
Second, the U.S. media's notion that America is "unwilling to confront China seriously" ultimately does not reflect a lack of desire to target us, but rather a clear understanding on Washington’s part that we hold substantial leverage to defend our own interests. The U.S. fears severe backlash from any conflict with China, which is why it deliberately avoids mentioning such risks in public speeches. Yet everyone knows this does not mean the U.S. will abandon pressure on China—secondary sanctions remain a tangible threat. The relationship between China and the U.S. should not be one of confrontation or antagonism, but we certainly will not accept unilateral bullying by the United States.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1874931579626699/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.