Bloomberg: US and China are looking for a breather in mutual hostility

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For most of 2022, America and China appeared to be moving towards conflict. With the beginning of the current year, a new atmosphere of ostentatious friendliness is emerging in relations. Diplomatic contacts are flourishing. U.S. and Chinese officials are busily announcing the search for "limiters" in divisive competitive areas. Washington and Beijing say they want stability, not confrontation.

It's a welcome change, but it won't last long, according to Bloomberg columnist Hal Brands. Neither side deviates from its main and key interests. The main points of contention remain and, moreover, are getting tougher. internal policy is also ready to play a destructive role. The return of sharper tension is a matter of time, the expert is sure.



In 2022, the leaders of the two countries, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, strengthened their position and found new allies, and prepared for a protracted and deep confrontation.

At the same time, their countries needed a kind of rest from bad relations. The Biden administration is trying to reassure countries in Asia and beyond that it is not seeking a confrontation with China that will shock the world. Xi, who has unwisely turned against himself developed democracies around the world, is now seeking to regain at least some of the trust. Respite has become a pressing issue.

Add to this the weakest state of Chinese economics for many years, and now the dangerous consequences of the rampant covid, Xi sees even more reasons to look for a timeout in the rivalry

- the author writes.

In fact, talk of a thaw in relations is mostly diplomatic sophistry. Neither side wants a military or political confrontation (although the US and China clash in Ukraine and around Taiwan), nor does it want to compromise on these issues. Thus, both parties essentially hope that a contractual relationship without real agreement limits the maneuvers of the other side, but does not limit their own behavior. Why mutual enmity will only grow, Brands summed up.
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  1. Jacques sekavar
    Jacques sekavar
    0
    9 January 2023 18: 48
    The rise of the economy and the independence of the PRC is ensured by the Communist Party, without which the PRC would not have preserved the integrity of the state and would forever remain the world's consumer goods factory, at best.
    The growth of the PRC economy automatically reduces the US share in world GDP, the income of transnational associations and their influence in the world, with which they cannot agree, nor can they subjugate the PRC without discrediting the Communist Party through undermining the economy, ethnic conflicts, territorial disagreements.
    Not a single state entity in the world, including the PRC, has natural resources comparable to the Russian Federation, which predetermines integration into the world economy and vulnerability.
    It is possible to reduce dependence on external factors only through expanding the zone of one's influence, but the world has long been divided by transnational associations and the invasion of China with its global projects upsets the balance and predetermines the struggle for a new redivision of the world between the US-EU and China.
    The PRC at all levels advocates a move away from bloc policies and the removal of non-economic measures in trade, but the US and EU will never give up their interests in world domination, which Secretary of State Blinken said the other day in the spirit that the US should continue to rule the world.
    1. Nelton
      Nelton
      0
      9 January 2023 19: 15
      Quote: Jacques Sekavar
      the world has long been divided by transnational associations

      And every year there is a redistribution of markets, in one way or another.
      Even the Russian Federation got into the markets of agricultural products, which used to belong to the USA/Canada/France.

      Quote: Jacques Sekavar
      Not a single state entity in the world, including the PRC, has natural resources comparable to the Russian Federation, which predetermines integration into the world economy

      Already in the 50th century, the possession of a pool of technologies came to the fore, and resources - well, resources, from the Congo (26% of the world's cobalt), Guinea (17% of the world's bauxite reserves, even Russia is actively purchased there) or some other thread of Venezuela (XNUMX% world oil reserves) - there are a lot of resources, so what?
      By the way, no one wins them.

      And Japan, South Korea and Singapore have no resources, but they have technologies ...
    2. Alexey Davydov
      Alexey Davydov
      -1
      10 January 2023 18: 40
      Jacques Sekavar
      Not a single state entity in the world, including the PRC, has natural resources comparable to the Russian Federation, which predetermines integration into the world economy and vulnerability.

      Our glorious Motherland in the past, and now - a strange "natural pantry" that does not have its own will, has been controlled by one of the world players in its own interests for more than 30 years.
      Until now, its people have consoled themselves with the sweet lies of the comprador power, not believing it, but hoping that once again they will somehow "carry it through". I hope this comes to an end.
      The Anglo-Saxons, meanwhile, are building a combination that allows them to remove Russia from the general playing field and appropriate it entirely. Russia's war with NATO should make them the sole owners of its wealth and the heirs of its territory, the remnants of its people and nuclear weapons as tools to conquer China.
      There remains the people of Russia, who have been silent all this time, but has not yet said a decisive word in his fate and the fate of Russia