Photo: GT

China on Friday announced to close and withdraw its consent for the establishment and operation of the US Consulate General in Chengdu as a reciprocal measure against the US demanding the closure of China's Consulate General in Houston. We believe in China that no one wants to see a free fall in China-US relations, but the latest reciprocal measure taken by China demonstrates that we won't indulge in the US provocations. China will not flinch in order to safeguard its bottom line.

It's regrettable that the countries close each other's consulate. However, Chinese society will definitely support the country's decision to retaliate. It has been the US that severely provoked China first. China's reciprocal measure accords with international norms. We have no other choice. 

A few years back, neither Chinese nor American people could imagine what has happened today between China and the US. Tragic interactions are occurring and no doubt it is Washington that has led the situation to this tragic direction. 

Some two years ago, the US flagrantly launched a trade war against China. It's clear to the whole world that a certain political force in the US wants to subvert decades-long benign China-US relations, pushing the two countries to decouple and into a new cold war. A few hours ago, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared that nearly 50 years of engagement with China has failed, and called for change in the relationship and confrontation with China.

The US consulate in Chengdu

The current US administration is dismantling the construction of China-US relations almost with a bulldozer. They have politicized China-US trade and politicized people-to-people exchanges including educational cooperation. Numerous Chinese students in the US were suspected to be "Chinese spies," while some Chinese scholars have been persecuted in the US. Several Chinese media outlets including the Global Times were designated by the US as "foreign missions." From diplomats to journalists and students, the Chinese people are facing a completely different environment in the US. Now the US has decided to take action against the Chinese consulate in Houston. 

China has been the passive side who responds to actions made by the US which deteriorate bilateral relations. The trade war was started by the US and China was forced to respond. China was also forced to hit back as the US imposed sanctions on Chinese organizations and individuals. We can almost say that US' federal agencies are competing to create trouble for China and sabotage bilateral ties. The US' China policy as a whole has been poisoned.

Chinese society, until today, hasn't given up its efforts to prevent China-US relations from free falling. No senior Chinese officials have completely denied the US politically or hyped up an "anti-US" sentiment among the general public. In other words, there are no Chinese officials that are anti-US figures, unlike Pompeo who is openly anti-China. When criticizing the US, Chinese officials focus on specific issues based on facts when the two countries run into conflicts. The majority of Chinese society is against engaging in a new cold war with the US. The consciousness of opening-up is deeply rooted in China. 

Photo: GT

The US is constantly escalating anti-China moves and is forcing China to hit back. The Chinese side is facing a dilemma: It would appear weak if it doesn't fight back, which will lead to a series of consequences, seriously hurting China's long-term national interests. However, after reciprocal measures are taken to fight back, China and the US are pushed further away; decoupling is accelerating and strategic risk is rising in Asia Pacific region. 

But many times, the US side has forced China to take only one choice; that is, it must take reciprocal measures. For example, this time, China must close one US consulate in China. It takes this step to safeguard China's national interests and maintain rules-based decisions for the entire humanity. 

We want to make it clear that the Chinese side has no intentions to escalate this consulate closure conflict. This attitude of the Chinese side is politically rational, not bashful. Unlike the trade war, the US side has no advantage in this row. If the US continues to shut down the other Chinese consulates in the US, the Chinese side will definitely follow up with reciprocal steps, closing the same number of US consulates in China. 

Washington thinks it has the strongest will, but it's a huge misperception. It first closed China's consulate in the US, but China is more resolute to retaliate by closing the US consulates in China. The former is provocation, whereas the latter is defense of the country's own rights.

The US must abandon the illusion that it can force China to yield. China is forced to take countermeasures and is indeed the most resilient. Whether the US' provocation is a show made for the election makes no difference to China. China's attitude is simple. We will hit back after any malicious provocations.