Global Times Editorials Insist, Washington Must Explain Itself or Face Backlash

May 27, 2019 (EIRNS)—The lead editorial in Global Times today is a stark warning that the Trump Administration must make clear its actual intentions in regard to relations with China, or face a severe backlash from China and the world. Titled “U.S. Must Clarify Its China Approach,” excerpts follow:

“The Chinese people are so confused: What on earth does the U.S. want with China? Does it want fair trade or does the U.S. refuse to accept China’s development and seek to break the Chinese economy as its ultimate goal?

“This is a major issue. For the sake of long-term interests and the well-being of the Chinese and the U.S. people, as well as the world peace, Washington has an obligation to make a serious and sincere answer to the question so as to help Chinese society accurately understand the U.S. intention. Such an understanding will profoundly affect the way Chinese society responds to the U.S.-launched trade war and China’s overall attitude toward the U.S.

“Washington rudely tries to use a tariff war to suppress China. U.S. vice president and U.S. secretary of state issued fierce speeches recently. The U.S. is also opposing almost all of China’s actions on the international stage and is suppressing Huawei savagely. This behavior makes most Chinese believe the U.S. is against China’s development, and the real purpose of the U.S. is to deprive China of its development ability and the so-called fair trade is just an excuse for stealing away interests. In other words, the U.S. wants to rob China of not only its money but also its future.

“If Washington turns its jealousy against China’s development into all-round containment of the country, and would seek to sacrifice the two peoples’ livelihoods and world peace only to tear China down, then this is an evil policy that violates political morality. Under such circumstances, Chinese people will not yield to the U.S. We will do our best to protect the right of national development and not fear any risk....

“China has no will to challenge the U.S. strategically. China’s development is for the good life of the people. China has wanted to rid itself of humiliation throughout modern history, which is a strategic psychology of a defensive nature. We sincerely believe China cannot pursue its interests by zero-sum expansion. Expanding cooperation is the only way for China to advance in the world....

“What is the U.S. strategy toward China? The question makes us confused. What does it mean that the U.S. regards China as a strategic rival? Who should be responsible for U.S. actions? There are the U.S. leaders’ changing statements, fierce voices against China in the White House and radical claims from the U.S. Congress. To which of these should we pay attention and which should we ignore?...

“In a politically diverse U.S. society, there is no powerful force that opposes extreme policies against China. Although there are criticisms of the trade war, most of them analyzes specific interests. They have no strategic rethinking of how to prevent escalation. U.S. suppression of China is still expanding.

“Have the U.S. government and major U.S. political forces made up their mind to escalate toward comprehensive containment of Beijing? Are they even prepared to further accelerate the process? Washington should figure this out and give credible answers to the Chinese and U.S. peoples as well as the entire international society.”

A second editorial in Global Times warns that the mood of the population in China is expressed in rapidly increasing social media posts reflecting on the Korean War and the Cold War.

“Some hold that China’s counterstrikes against U.S. provocation are too mild. Indeed, this is not the right time for China to change from ‘defensive’ to the ‘offensive.’ But that could never mean that China is a coward without weapons to fight back.... If Washington insists on engaging in such a trade war, China will certainly not hesitate to fight back.”