Pragmatic cooperation crucial for development of China-US ties
OPINION / VIEWPOINT
Pragmatic cooperation crucial for development of China-US ties
Published: Jan 14, 2025 11:03 PM
Photo: IC

Photo: IC

Editor's Note: 
According to a recent Global Times survey across 46 countries, nearly 80 percent of respondents expressed optimism about China's development prospects, with over 90 percent anticipating sustained economic growth over the next decade. This is one of the findings in this global public survey with the largest scale, the largest sample size, and the most comprehensive and in-depth questionnaire designed since the founding of the People's Republic of China that seeks to answer questions related to China and its development from a global viewpoint. The Global Times has invited domestic and foreign experts to comment on and explore the broader implications of these findings, seeking to provide readers with an in-depth analysis and fresh perspectives on China's evolving role in the international community. This is the third piece of the series.

The survey on China's international image released by the Global Times Institute came to an enlightening conclusion: The mainstream opinion among both the Chinese and US people, as well as the international community, is the desire for stability and substantial improvement in bilateral relations. This indeed aligns more with the reality and development trends of China-US relations. In this regard, it is especially important to accurately grasp the mainstream emotions of the people and recognize that the current state of China-US relations is fluid, rather than fixed in a rigid binary of allies and adversaries.

First, a biggest challenge in stabilizing China-US relations is that the US has mischaracterized the relationship, detaching it from reality. In terms of China, the political elites in the US have fallen into the trap of "political correctness," becoming accustomed to defining ideologically different nations with labels such as evil, and formulating policies based on these prejudicial views. At this juncture, when there is still room for adjustment in US policies, the rational and grounded understanding of China by the American public and the international community offers a rare opportunity to correct the current, somewhat paranoid China policy. It is hoped that US decision-makers will take the health-related needs of the public into account when formulating policies and adopt a more objective, realistic approach to China, grounded in implementation rather than fantasy.

Second, the US political elites have a tendency to deliberately distort and fabricate narratives that suit their needs regarding China and its foreign policies. Terms such as "revisionist state," "debt trap" and "axis power" are frequently resorted to smear and demonize China. The findings of the survey clearly indicate that both the American public and the international community do not accept the distorted "China narrative" manufactured by US political elites. On the contrary, building a friendly and cooperative relationship with China is the mainstream view in most countries, and stabilizing China-US relations is at the core of international public opinions. In today's digital age, where the internet and social media are the primary sources of information, people around the world have a more accurate and objective understanding of China. The US political elites' obsession with creating an unrealistic "China narrative" will only be rejected by both the American public and other nations, ultimately backfiring on the US itself.

Third, the US political elites' obsession with "hegemony" not only limits their capacity for pragmatic and rational policies toward China but also harms their chances of rapidly mending its own situation. Since 2017, the core theme of US' China policy has been to create crises and undermine China's internal and external environment, hindering the sustainable growth of China's power. In reality, the areas of cooperation between China and the US far outweigh the points of competition. How can healthy policies and an accurate understanding of China be formed if most efforts are devoted to areas that deviate from the objective reality of China-US relations?

The Global Times survey clearly reveals that the US' series of containment policies toward China have not received the support of the American public or the international community. On the contrary, China's contributions and participation in international affairs have been overwhelmingly recognized by the people around the world. 

In a week, Donald Trump will return to the White House. It is hoped that the new US administration will adopt a China policy that genuinely reflects the desires of the American public and the international community. After all, the development of China-US relations in a positive direction, with mutual efforts, not only fits the trends of the times but also meets the pragmatic needs of all countries as they work toward building a community with a shared future for mankind.

The author is a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn
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