China and US Need To Address 5 Crucial Points

The 11th World Peace Forum, organized by Tsinghua University and co-organized by the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, took place in Beijing from July 1 to July 3, the theme being “Stabilizing an Unstable World through Consensus and Cooperation.” While conducting on-site interviews, this China Review News reporter saw how, during the four plenary discussions and 19 panel discussions (including one joint panel) of this year’s forum, Chinese and foreign attendees of the conference candidly and comprehensively exchanged views on relevant issues, studying and judging the current international situation from different angles and layers and advancing relevant suggestions. Among these topics, Chinese-U.S. relations undoubtedly took center stage.

This year’s forum coincides with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to China and the eve of U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's visit. After the Chinese balloon incident caused China-U.S. relations to hit rock bottom, the issue of whether the recent interactions between high-level U.S. and Chinese officials could stabilize their countries’ relations and put them back on track has garnered considerable attention from the outside world. At this year’s forum, there was a panel on "Reconstructing the Stable Framework of Sino-U.S. Relations." In addition, in several other plenary discussions, lunchtime speaking sessions and during many panel discussions, Chinese-U.S. relations were again a hot issue during guest comments and Q&A sessions.

Combining viewpoints from the forum along with my observations and analysis, there are currently five priorities in China-U.S. relations that we need to take seriously:

First, the impacts of China-U.S. relations are extensive and far-reaching. Both sides are responsible for jointly managing good relations between the two countries. Given that they are the world's two largest economies and both are permanent members of the United Nations, we can say that the relationship between China and the U.S. is the most important bilateral relationship in the world. The development of relations between the two countries directly affects the future of the world's political and economic landscape. Its significance has long extended beyond the domain of bilateral relations. Based on this, as two responsible world powers, China and the U.S. both have a duty to properly manage their relationship and respond to the expectations of the international community.

Second, as Chinese-U.S. relations have become more unstable, we must reasonably manage expectations for Chinese-U.S. relations. In recent years, China-U.S. relations have endured twists and turns, becoming more unstable and unpredictable. Last year, the two heads of state met in Bali and reached some consensus on the relationship between the two countries, but a series of incidents since then has interfered with and interrupted the process of cooperation between the two. For a long while, the China-U.S. relationship has continued to spiral downward, becoming tense and sensitive, and just about any incident has stirred up a hornet's nest and led to the further deterioration of relations between the two countries. Therefore, we need to understand the current state of China-U.S. relations rationally and have reasonable expectations for their future. Reasonable expectations are more helpful in grasping the major problems and solving delicate issues than unreasonable expectations.

Third, seeking peace is a common interest. The common objective of both countries should be to avoid conflict and confrontation. Although China and the U.S. differ on many issues, they share a mutual interest in seeking peace. China has repeatedly advocated for "peaceful coexistence" on many occasions. After his visit to China, in remarks during a think tank interview, Blinken also said that China and the United States must first find a way to “coexist peacefully." To maintain peace, the most fundamental thing is to keep China-U.S. relations on the right track, build guardrails and, at the same time, resort to more diplomatic means to solve problems. China and the U.S. need to avoid falling into the so-called security dilemma where one pursues its own security too much at the expense of destroying mutual trust and even risking an arms race, creating greater insecurity.

Fourth, the Taiwan issue poses the most obvious risk in China-U.S. relations and requires special attention. In recent years, as U.S.-Taiwan relations have deepened, the Taiwan issue has gradually become the most prominent and sensitive issue between the U.S. and China. At every high-level interaction between China and the United States, the Taiwan problem is a core issue that is always discussed. China has repeatedly asserted a firm position on Taiwan, while the United States has repeatedly insisted on its One-China policy, contending that it "does not support Taiwan independence" among other official statements. But in fact, the U.S. has never stopped selling arms to Taiwan and frequently exchanges visits with high-level officials in the Taiwan region. China has expressed its strong opposition to the United States’ behavior whereby it says one thing and does another. Consequently, this has greatly diminished mutual trust between the U.S. and China on Taiwan. Presidential elections in Taiwan and the United States will take place next year. This period will be critical for the Taiwan Strait situation and requires close attention. Mainland China is firmly determined and strong-willed about reunification of the motherland, while the U.S. hopes to maintain a policy that rejects unification, independence and use of force. In a situation that could benefit the interests of one of the two countries, Chinese and American disagreement over the Taiwan Strait is only natural. The final solution to the Taiwan issue will require the Chinese on both sides of the strait to find a wise solution together.

Finally, dialogue is better than no dialogue. There needs to be improvement in the atmosphere between China and the United States. From Secretary of State Blinken’s visit to China to Treasury Secretary Yellen’s visit to China, frequent high-level interactions between China and the U.S. may provide an opportunity for China-U.S. relations to turn around. Face-to-face dialogue and communication are crucial for state-to-state relations. This not only expresses the common desire of the two sides to stabilize their relationship, but is also conducive to a more candid, in-depth and effective exchange of views, at the same time promoting a better atmosphere surrounding relations between the two countries.

This strategic game between China and the United States is inevitable and will continue for a long time. The top priority is that the two sides clarify their bottom lines and positions through communication and dialogue to avoid errors in judgment. China and the United States urgently need to establish a relationship framework based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. Of these factors, the most fundamental point is that the two countries need to have a common political desire to avoid crossing each other's boundaries and to walk toward each other on the right track.