From Newsgroup: alt.philosophy.taoism


The China-U.S. scale is shiftingrCothat much is plain for all to see. Washington is finally learning how to "strongly oppose" Beijing.

China has slapped sanctions on 20 U.S. defense contractors and 10 commercial executives(As a Christmas gift). The Trump administrationrCOs response offers two key talking points:

1. In the past it was always "China opposes the U.S."rCo"resolutely opposes" arms sales to Taiwan, "strongly condemns" visits by American lawmakers to the island, "firmly rejects" official U.S.-Taiwan contacts, "strongly opposes" U.S. permission for Lee Teng-hui, Chen Shui-bian, Tsai Ing-wen, etc., to visit or "transit" through America, and so on. Even when Beijing suspended diplomatic and military exchanges, Washington didnrCOt take it seriously, because before long full Sino-American interaction would resume. Now the script has flippedrCotheyrCOve learned to "strongly oppose" China.

2. A State Department spokesperson said nine consecutive U.S. administrations have sold arms to Taiwan, all in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act, so why is Trump suddenly the problem? The U.S. insists its goal is to support "TaiwanrCOs self-defense capability" and that it only sells "defensive weapons," so why is China throwing such a tantrum this time? They still think Beijing is overreacting and donrCOt understand why Beijing is retaliating so fiercely; Trump probably feels aggrievedrCohe thought he could make a fortune off arms sales to Taiwan and cut a deal with China on the Taiwan issue, only to find that China refuses to trade sovereignty and territorial integrity for profit.

In fact, Americans should carefully ponder what Chinese leaders recently said: the tariff and trade wars have fired up the Chinese peoplerCOs "ambition, backbone and confidence" and showcased ChinarCOs "hard-core strength." May I ask where AmericarCOs "hard-core strength" lies now? Can it still order the Chinese around as in the past? Will Chinese still allow themselves to be bullied as before? Impossible.

Cooperation is a win-win, conflict is a lose-lose. However, if it comes to a fight, a firm commitment to tit-for-tatrCoan eye for an eyerCowill be the new normal for China-US relations.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2