Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also the Chinese lead person for China-U.S. economic and trade affairs, held trade consultations with the U.S. side in Malaysia from October 24 to 27. The consultations focused on key issues in China-U.S. economic and trade relations, following the important consensus reached by the two countries' heads of state during their phone calls earlier this year. 

On the morning of October 18 (Beijing Time), He held a video call with the U.S. lead negotiators, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The call was the first high-level direct communication between the two sides since China implemented new regulations on rare earth export controls on October 9 and the U.S. threatened to impose triple-digit tariffs.

For over a week, tensions between China and the U.S. over trade issues have been escalating. U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent called Li Chenggang, China international trade representative with the Ministry of Commerce and Vice Minister of Commerce "aggressive" and "highly provocative."

These accusations came as a surprise to the world, as many people perceive the U.S. as the more aggressive party at the negotiating table. They are not only a reflection of America's long-standing national confidence, coming from "a position of strength," but also a common negotiating tactic used by U.S. representatives—employing maximum pressure to break down their opponents' psychological defenses.

A story has been circulating online for many years about Robert Lighthizer, the U.S. Trade Representative in the first Donald Trump administration from 2017 to 2021, dubbed the "Trade Czar." According to Los Angeles Times, in the 1980s, he represented the U.S. Government in trade negotiations with Japan. Allegedly, he folded Japan's negotiation list into a paper airplane and threw it at the Japanese delegation, stating that the U.S. was not there to listen to Japan's conditions, but to see whether Japan would accept America's terms. Although Beijing Review is unable to verify the story, it is enough to illustrate that America's domineering image has deeply ingrained itself in the public's mind. 

Another real and widely known example of these pressure tactics occurred on March 18, 2021, during the China-U.S. high-level strategic dialogue in Anchorage, Alaska. The opening of the dialogue was initially meant to involve a brief two-minute speech by each side's representatives in front of the media, followed by a closed-door meeting. However, what should have been a diplomatic warm-up turned into a talk show, where U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan used the opportunity to attack China's internal and foreign policies before the global media. This forced the Chinese representative, Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office, to respond forcefully, stating: "The U.S. should not be condescending in its tone when speaking to China, as the Chinese people never buy it. Mutual respect is always a basis for dealing with China."

Indeed, the rule for dealing with China is mutual respect. It was the U.S. that first initiated the trade war with the whole world, including China, the U.S. that first imposed export and technology controls on China, and the U.S. that first added extra port fees on Chinese vessels. Yet, when China responded with countermeasures, the U.S. shifted the blame onto China and attempted to continue pressuring China to make concessions. This is clearly not the correct way to engage.

If the U.S. truly hopes the economic and trade talks in Malaysia pave the way for a higher-level China-U.S. summit and resolve America's economic, trade and domestic issues, then its officials should abandon their condescending attitude and return to the foundation of equality and mutual respect.

China's position on managing China-U.S. economic and trade issues has been consistent and clear: "Our doors are open, if the U.S. wants to talk. Dialogue and negotiation must be based on equality, respect and mutual benefit. We will fight, if fight we must. Pressure, threats and blackmail are not the right way to deal with China." This has been repeatedly emphasized. BR

Copyedited by G.P. Wilson

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