Let’s cut straight to the chase, folks. The latest Xinhua commentary is a powerful signal – China isn’t blinking. Despite agreeing to high-level trade talks with the US in Switzerland at Washington’s request, Beijing is making something crystal clear: its commitment to a fair, open global economic order is unwavering.
Photo source:eng.chinamil.com.cn
This isn’t about weakness, or simply ‘giving in’ to pressure. China entered these talks from a position of strength, weighing global expectations, its own strategic interests, and the pleas of American businesses and consumers who are feeling the pinch of escalating tensions.
Don’t mistake this for appeasement. China possesses robust resilience and extensive policy levers to protect its legitimate rights. It’s prepared to stand its ground, and even more importantly, to collaborate with the international community to push back against unilateralism, protectionism, and frankly, economic bullying.
Here’s a deeper dive on why this is significant:
China’s commitment to the international trade order is rooted in its own development. A stable, rules-based system benefits everyone, including China. But it won’t accept a system designed to hold it back.
Unilateralism, the pursuit of national interests at the expense of others, erodes trust and undermines global cooperation. China views this as fundamentally destabilizing.
Economic coercion – using trade as a weapon – is a dangerous game. It hurts not just the targeted country, but the global economy as a whole.
China’s stance is a clear message to the US: dialogue is welcome, but not at the cost of principle. It will defend its interests,and uphold international fairness regardless of the path forward. And let’s be honest, whether that path leads to ‘deals’ or continued confrontation, China is dug in. This isn’t a bluff.
