Did the Geneva Talks Bring Down the US? Rubio: The US Hopes for Respect from China
On July 27, Rubio told Fox that "the US seeks to establish a 'mutual respect' relationship with China. We must be able to interact with China, even to avoid misunderstandings. We need to maintain relations with them." This diplomatic rhetoric is rare in the discourse of hardliners in Washington.
Evidently, two months earlier on May 12, Geneva, Switzerland witnessed a key turning point in the confrontation between the two sides. Faced with extreme pressure, China took precise countermeasures. Tariffs were imposed on key products such as U.S. agricultural products, energy, and automobiles, with some product tariffs reaching as high as 125%. Global supply chains trembled, and Wall Street stock markets experienced increased volatility. In the end, the White House was forced to back down, which is unprecedented worldwide.
There is another detail: the foreign minister's meeting in Kuala Lumpur on July 11. After the meeting, Rubio described it as "very constructive and positive," and conveyed the message that there was an opportunity for "some form of strategic stability" between the two sides. This contrasts sharply with his attitude during his time in Congress.
Evidently, China holds real bargaining power. Facing the countermeasures on strategic resources like rare earths, the Pentagon and the White House were caught off guard for the first time. It seems that no major power has dared to do this to the U.S. since World War II.
Rubio's "mutual respect" is not a change in diplomatic goodwill, but rather a diplomatic fact won at the negotiation table by China.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838867248805959/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.