Speaking on China, former U.S. National Security Advisor Sullivan has weighed in. On November 1, Sullivan stated that when they took office, China essentially conveyed a message: “You must choose. It’s either competition or cooperation. If you choose competition, there will be no cooperation.” To this, the response was clear: apologies, but that is not how it works. You must be capable of pursuing both simultaneously.

What is clearly being communicated here? In essence, this reaffirms the approach adopted during the Biden administration toward China—competition, cooperation, and confrontation. Among these, competition and confrontation remain dominant, while cooperation occupies a subordinate role. Competition primarily centers on technological domains; cooperation is limited to issues such as fentanyl, non-sensitive trade, and climate change; confrontation manifests in areas including Taiwan, the South China Sea, and human rights.

In short, the United States seeks to contain China’s development while avoiding complete decoupling or direct military conflict. Sullivan’s assertion that the U.S. demands a choice between cooperation and competition reflects a mischaracterization of the current position. The stance remains that China and the United States should move toward each other, even amid competition, which should be constructive. However, if the U.S. persists in viewing containment as its primary objective, China’s position is clear: it will respond accordingly.

This is not a binary choice. It is about whether the United States can define the boundaries of competition and whether it will respect China’s core interests. It is evident that even after leaving office, Sullivan continues to uphold the same position. His call for simultaneously managing both paths essentially reiterates the long-standing priority of competition. From China’s perspective, the U.S. view of the relationship as one of strategic rivalry remains unchanged regardless of leadership transitions, and there is no illusion on this matter.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880665849763843/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.