World expects cooperation, not confrontation, on trade issues

The US is confronting deep economic disorder due to the immature and non-pragmatic global policy of the Donald Trump administration. The US-China trade dispute reveals the failure of US diplomacy and irresponsibility toward the global community at a time when broad cooperation is needed to resolve common global challenges.

After imposing 25 percent tariffs on imports from China, Trump administration blacklisted Huawei and cut off all American supplies to Huawei. At the outset it seems the Huawei case is just part of trade dispute, but a closer look shows it is a well-planned strategy of US to stop China's technological advancement and global strength.

On Sunday, China issued a white paper. The paper clearly states that China does not want but is not afraid of a trade war. "China's position has been consistent and clear-that cooperation serves the interests of the two countries, that conflict can only hurt both, and that cooperation is the only correct choice for both side," the white paper said. Though both countries have ideological and conceptual differences on governance, China and US with building diplomatic rapprochement and understanding since 1972 have been benefited a lot from their cooperation on multiple levels. In many occasions, Chinese leadership has argued about the kind support the US provided on China's entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001. But Trump's efforts have started to harm historical harmony and rapprochements between the two economic powers. On the issue of Trump tariffs, the white paper further says, "in response to the economic and trade friction unilaterally initiated by the US since March 2018, China has had to take forceful measures to defend the interests of the nation and its people."

It is an open secret that every American administration since 1972 did everything possible to force liberal economic structure in China in the hope that capitalism will ultimately make China fulfill its interest. But they didn't understand the deep influence of socialism in the Chinese society. Professor Graham Allison, author of Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides Trap once said that Americans enjoy lecturing Chinese to be "more like us". But they never tried to realize the China's reality from Chinese perspective. China is a nation of long civilization. Chinese leadership and people are capable of choosing what system they like and what political-economic structure they need for progress and prosperity. Finally, US efforts to create hurdles on internal matters of China completely failed. Pentagon report of 2017 called the rising China a threat for global US interest and concern. This report ignored China's peaceful development posture and non-interference policy.

Sunday's white paper also answered the US accusation of IP theft and issue of forced technology transfer. "Historical records confirm that China's achievements in scientific and technological innovation are not something we stole or forcibly took from others; they were earned through self-reliance and hard work" the white paper said. In 2018, the US Chamber of Commerce acknowledged that China is constructing tangible progress in generating an intellectual property environment as per requirement at the 21st century.

Truth is that trade war would not benefit any stakeholders. It will create global economic recession and reduce investment and harm capital flow. Economist Adam Posen of Paterson Institute once argued that harsh measure of tariffs would increase inflation in US and create trouble to the low-income people. Many economists are worried that due to Trump's hardline economic posture, it could further reduce the utility of Bretton-Wood institute. They also suggest that China should take support of rest of the world to take historical initiative to safeguard the norms of globalization and retain the global economic governance. Actually, the global community still believes that two major economic powers US and China will soon be back on negotiating table and resolve the issues comprehensively. Otherwise, if the US continues its hawkish economic behavior the world can't wait to take alternative measure to re-balance the economic order based on principle of multilateralism and cooperation.

Many countries across the continents are looking for more investment and technological advancement from the economic powers particularly. Few months ago, the Asian Development Bank estimated that Asia needs about $26 trillion of investment in infrastructure until 2030 in order to sustain current growth rates. Similar requirements are necessary for other continents too. This picture also demonstrates that the world needs more cooperation, collaboration and engagement. But Trumps' efforts are obliterating the pace of global development and cooperation. And if this situation continues, no doubt the world community will be compelled to rethink its overall American policy for the sake of global peace, stability and development.

The grand events of 2019 like the second Belt and Road Forum and Conferences on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations pledged more international cooperation among the global community. As a responsible global power, America should not move away from its historical role and requirement. We can still hope that US will realize the sentiment of global community and drop its agendas and contribute to make the global economic governance system more appropriate. History will judge the American role and activities, weather it is supportive or malign posture.

The authois is PhD Fellow at Communication University of China. He is also President of Himalaya Dialogue and Leadership Foundation.

The opinions expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of China Daily and China Daily website.