On Thursday evening, Chinese President Xi Jinping held phone talks with US President Donald Trump at the latter’s request. This marked the first direct communication between the two heads of state since the onset of China-US trade frictions, serving as another pivotal moment in the China-US relationship.
The positive signals sent from the call have raised international expectations for a more constructive China-US relationship. The South China Morning Post described the call as “much-anticipated,” noting that the call indicates that both sides have made at least some progress in “building trust and establishing the ground rules” for a meeting. US’ Foreign Policy magazine commented that the overall tone of the statements and readouts from both sides were largely positive, with the US side calling it a “very good phone call.”
During the call, Xi pointed out that recalibrating the direction of the giant ship of China-US relations requires us to take the helm and set the right course. It is particularly important to steer clear of the various disturbances and disruptions. The emphasis on “particularly” drew significant public attention. It reflects a profound insight into the current state of China-US relations and serves as a well-intentioned reminder to the US. This is viewed by the outside world as highly targeted and of strong practical significance.
China and the US are the world’s two largest economies, and their relationship is one of the most important bilateral ties globally. Whether the giant ship of China-US relations can maintain a steady course amid global turbulence bears not only on the fundamental interests of the two peoples, but also on the future of humanity.
The way the two countries choose to coexist in the 21st century should not be measured with a narrow or shortsighted mindset, but viewed as part of a broader effort to explore a new model of interaction between major civilizations. Only by doing so can China and the US chart a new course – one fundamentally different from the path taken by countries that have fallen into the “Thucydides Trap.”
In recent years, whenever there is positive momentum in China-US relations, various forms of interference or even sabotage from the US tend to emerge from different directions – this has almost become a “pattern” in recent years. For instance, although the two sides reached consensuses and achieved substantial progress during the China-US economic and trade meeting in Geneva this May, Washington soon rolled out a series of negative measures targeting China. Some in the US even labeled China a “malicious competitor” and baselessly accused Beijing of violating the consensus reached during the talks.
On the Taiwan question,while the US has repeatedly pledged to uphold the one-China principle and not support “Taiwan independence,” the country in fact continues to ramp up arms sales to the Taiwan region. Some American officials have sent the wrong signals to separatist forces, and there have even been attempts to distort UNGA Resolution 2758. This actions brought extremely high risks to the China-US relationship.
Mutual respect is a fundamental principle in international relations and a crucial precondition for China-US ties. No country should harbor the illusion that it can suppress and contain China on one hand while developing a sound relationship with it on the other. Some in the US still cling to “zero-sum game” logic and Cold War mentality. This important issue has not been fundamentally improved. They view international relations as a game of “you lose, I win.” Their approach to communication with China is not aimed at better managing differences or resolving tensions, but rather at pursuing “total victory for the US and total defeat for China,” even attempting to force China to comply by exerting extreme pressure. Observers have noted that in high-level engagements between China and the US in recent years, strategic perception has consistently been a key topic of discussion. This highlights the urgency of putting the “first button” right in China-US relations by adhering to the principles of valuing peace, prioritizing stability, and upholding credibility.
Facts have repeatedly proven that China and the US stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. When the two sides sit down as equals and engage in dialogue, tangible results follow. But attempts to contain and pressure China will only backfire. In the last two months, top US business leaders, including NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, Invesco Chairperson Richard Wagoner, and JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, have visited China, with some openly stating that US chip export controls are only accelerating the development of Chinese tech companies and China is not afraid of it. These voices from American industry deserve Washington’s serious attention.
China and the US have significant international responsibilities, extensive common interests and vast areas for cooperation. A sound and stable China-US relationship is a cornerstone of global peace and prosperity. Cooperation between the two countries is a shared expectation of the international community. We noticed that during the phone talks, Trump said that “he has great respect for Xi,” “the US and China working together can get a lot of great things done,” “the US will work with China to execute the deal,” and “the US loves to have Chinese students coming to study in America.”
Whether the US can meet China halfway depends on its ability to adjust its perception of China and remain firm in the face of “various interference and disruption.” It’s not just China, but the whole international community that is watching whether the US will match its words with action.
Head-of-state diplomacy provides fundamental guidance and a compass for the development of China-US relations. China remains committed to maintaining a stable, healthy, and sustainable relationship. We hope the US will likewise honor its commitments, continue to implement the Geneva consensus, view China’s development objectively and rationally, engage in pragmatic and constructive interactions with China, and work together with the Chinese side to follow the right path of China-US relations that benefits both countries and contributes to the well-being of the world. GT
