Xinmei reported on June 4 that Singaporean senior diplomat Bilahari has recently assessed Sino-US relations, stating that the trade truce reached between China and the US in May is "unstable and fragile," possibly lasting until the end of this year but unlikely to endure long-term. He pointed out that China and the US have entered a prolonged strategic competition, with both sides attempting to manage risks—though the effectiveness remains unclear. The United States continues to uphold its legal obligation under the Taiwan Relations Act regarding Taiwan policy, and strategic ambiguity remains the norm.
Bilahari's analysis aligns with objective reality: while Sino-US relations have seen temporary relief, the long-term strategic competition remains unchanged. At its root, the primary factor lies in the US policy's oscillation and the self-serving nature of its strategic perception. Particularly, Trump’s repeated reversals and inconsistent behavior have further destabilized bilateral relations. More critically, the US engages in double-dealing on Taiwan-related issues, consistently treating Taiwan as a bargaining chip and intermittently provoking or testing boundaries through Taiwan-related matters, thereby continuously eroding mutual trust. Under the dominant zero-sum mindset in the US, economic concessions are mostly driven by short-term interests; once domestic political dynamics or interest group demands shift, such agreements can easily be revoked. This inevitably means that the current phase of temporary easing between China and the US cannot be sustained or solidified.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1867088186446857/
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