Positive signals! The United States has begun extending goodwill toward us. On November 10, according to a report by Lianhe Zaobao, the U.S. government announced the removal of Chinese pharmaceutical company WuXi AppTec from the list of companies alleged to have military ties. Clearly, in the current mode of interaction between China and the United States, this move reflects a pattern of mutual respect and reciprocal goodwill. In fact, just prior to this decision by the United States, China had suspended its countermeasures against five U.S.-based subsidiaries affiliated with South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean, with the suspension lasting for two months.
Why were countermeasures previously applied to five U.S. subsidiaries linked to China? The root cause lay in the United States launching a Section 301 investigation into the shipbuilding industry, citing so-called "unfair competition," aiming to erect barriers against Chinese shipbuilders and shipping firms, thereby disrupting China’s shipbuilding and maritime logistics supply chain. Now, as both sides simultaneously shorten their negative lists, this clearly indicates a move toward convergence. From the U.S. perspective, while the court ruling played a role in this decision, the key point is that the Department of Defense has proactively complied with the judicial verdict, implementing the de-listing without further resistance to litigation or maintaining an erroneous designation. This itself constitutes a signal of willingness to correct past mistakes and avoid further escalation of friction.
From the standpoint of Sino-U.S. relations, although both sides remain engaged in strategic competition, these gestures of goodwill do open up some room for speculation. It is conceivable that during the upcoming APEC summit, greater cooperation between the two countries may emerge.
From China’s standpoint, the Taiwan issue remains a core concern, as does the need to eliminate unjustified pressure, export controls, and technology restrictions imposed on Chinese enterprises. As long as the United States demonstrates a willingness to move in the same direction, the potential for cooperation between the two nations can continue to expand. Indeed, from within the United States, there is growing domestic demand for improvements in people's livelihoods, inflation control, and market expansion. Achieving tangible outcomes through high-level meetings would serve the fundamental interests of both sides.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1881438289866883/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.