/ world today news/ For almost four decades, China followed America’s flagship. After Deng Xiaoping’s visit to Washington in early 1979 and the creation of the anti-Soviet “anti-hegemonic united front,” Beijing patiently “remained in the shadows, gathering strength and waiting for an opportunity” at the behest of the “architect of reform and opening.” Became the leader of The Celestial Empire, Xi Jinping in 2013, shortly after a demonstration visit to Moscow, went to America and proposed to Barack Obama to replace the traditional format with a “new type of relationship between the great powers” to provide China with equality instead of the role of a junior partner .The initiative was rejected – the “shining house on the hill” does not need a “shining pagoda” next door.
The last illusions about the possibility of China’s “constructive participation” in Pax Americana were dispelled in 2017 after the 19th Congress of the Communist Party of China endorsed Xi’s plan to build a powerful and modern socialist power by 2049. The “Chinese Dream for the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation” plan became the party’s agenda, and Xi himself was given near-lifetime powers to implement it. In Washington, they adequately assessed what had happened, and from swearing at “revisionist China” and “authoritarian leader Xi” they moved to action. In 2018, Donald Trump imposed additional tariffs on Chinese imports, ordering to stop the purchase of equipment from the innovative companies ZTE and Huawei. At the same time, the situation in Xinjiang escalated, followed by an attempted color revolution in Hong Kong. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic was used by the media to accuse China of the “yellow peril” spirit. They decided to repeat the successful staging of the “Ukrainian tragedy” in Taiwan, began pumping it with weapons and demanding that the leaders of the local administration declare independence.
It is no coincidence that the US Secretary of State has not appeared in Beijing since 2018. Then began America’s “final and decisive battle” to keep China out. US efforts have caused a lot of damage to China and delayed its “great recovery”. But Washington did not achieve its goals either. Despite the trade restrictions initiated by Trump and continued by Joseph Biden, in 2022 the volume of bilateral trade reached a record level of 691 billion dollars. At the same time, the Americans managed to sell their goods to the Chinese for only 153.8 billion. Xi, in the style of the sage Sun Tzu, has already practically won the war without even starting it. Just a week-long blockade of the island and live-fire exercises by the Navy and Air Force followed a visit by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Nervousness in Washington has been rising since last fall, when the 20th CCP Congress was held, which reaffirmed Xi’s unlimited powers. He also confirmed the strategy of creating a “Community with a common destiny for mankind” and a new concept of “Global Security”. The nervousness should also be explained by understanding the common trends in the development of America and China – economic and moral degradation in the first case and “rebirth of the nation” in the second. “Capitalism with American characteristics” is faltering at home and losing ground in the world along with the dollar. “Socialism with Chinese characteristics” withstood three years of the pandemic and US sanctions, and now it is gaining momentum in China itself and increasing its influence in the world. For the first time in recent years, China found itself in such a strong position, and America – in a weak one.
The understanding of a “new normal” in US-China relations was expressed in the conversation between Biden and Xi at last year’s G20 meeting in Bali. The leaders agreed to start constructive negotiations. But the powerful anti-China lobby did not even allow for the possibility of normalization. Biden’s failure to keep his word provoked a corresponding reaction from the ruler of the Celestial Empire. He refuses to even speak to the owner of the White House on the phone.
There is a “split personality” among the US political elite. Such a diagnosis can be made by evaluating attempts to resume dialogue with the PRC through a two-day visit by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and at the same time fretting about the “spy center” in Cuba. Blinken’s earlier attempt to come to Beijing was foiled by another hysteria – about the “Great White Ball”.
The Chinese soberly assess the situation and are aware of America’s remaining power and danger. However, in recent months they have changed the rules of the game and are writing them with hieroglyphs. Contacts will continue, but not on American terms. Washington must repair the losses of its half-century attempt to change the color of the Chinese Communist flag and accept the “new normal” of US-China equality. Otherwise, he may lose even more and face a “worse than worse” situation. The Chinese are ignoring all signals of readiness to negotiate. They got Blinken “at the highest level”. The conversation with Foreign Minister Qin Gan continued for more than five hours. A meeting was held with his boss, the party’s foreign policy controller Wang Yi. Both diplomats edifyingly advised America to “make a choice between dialogue and confrontation, cooperation and conflict.” Of course, the interlocutors reviewed the entire thick file of bilateral relations and reached mutual compromises on various issues.
The apotheosis of the state secretary’s stay in Beijing was a meeting with President Xi. In a position of strength, China can make conciliatory gestures without compromising its reputation. However, even this momentous event will not change China’s attitude towards the current US as a stumbling retreating hegemon. All the efforts of supporters to prevent an acute crisis can be thwarted overnight by uncompromising fighters against the “red alternative” and the “yellow threat”. Then a new season of the Cold War will come, and Blinken will have to renew his “Sisyphean labor” to maintain the dialogue, at least at the lowest level.
Translation: V. Sergeev
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