The United States on Thursday highlighted its special ties with China in managing global problems, including nuclear tensions in North Korea, instability in Afghanistan, and tackling the scourge of international terrorism.
Rejecting the doctrine of “containment” of China, visiting U.S. President Donald Trump, signaled at a joint press conference, that Washington and Beijing will be the main pillars of a more inclusive international system.
Singling out the special roles that the U.S. and the China have to jointly undertake, Mr. Trump said: “The United States working with China and other regional partners have an incredible opportunity to advance the cause of peace, security and prosperity all across the world. It is a very special time and we do indeed have that very special opportunity.”
“A great responsibility has been imposed on our shoulders Mr. President; truly a great responsibility,” he observed referring to his host Chinese President Xi Jinping. President Trump hoped that the two countries can “rise to the occasion and help our country’s citizens to reach their highest destinies and their fullest potentials”.
Some Chinese scholars were quick to the point out that with Mr. Trump’s visit, US and China were becoming the main pillars of an emerging new global order.
“Trump has recognised that China is its main partner to meet short and long term global challenges ranging from trade to nuclear issues,” says Wang Yiwei, professor at the School of International Studies, at Renmin University, in a conversation with The Hindu . He added: “I think his visit to China has helped Mr. Trump understand that the relationship between China and the United States should be viewed from long term, comprehensive and global perspectives.”
President Xi was equally upbeat about the unfolding relationship between the two countries, saying that Beijing-Washington ties now stood “at a new historic starting point,” which had global implications. “We believe Sino-U.S. relations concern not only the well-being of peoples, but also world peace, prosperity and stability,” Mr. Xi observed.
The remarks by the two leaders were preceded by a ceremony, where massive deals worth $253 billion dollars, focused on shale energy, aviation, and computer chips were signed. The state owned China
Petroleum and Chemical Corp, signed a $43 billion joint natural gas exploration contract in Alaska. The China National Petroleum Corporation, inked an initial agreement with Cheniere Energy, specialising in shale gas, for long term supplies of liquefied natural gas. China’s cellphone giants Xiaomi, OPPO and Vivo also signed deals with US telecom mobile chip maker Qualcomm.
Significantly China’s Silk Road Fund, a unit under the People’s Bank of China promoting the Belt and Road Initiative-President Xi’s signature plan— will set up a joint fund with the U.S. During his remarks President Xi also invited American firms to participate in the BRI.
In other contracts, China will buy Tesla electric cars and Boeing aircraft from the US.
The two leaders tried to project a common strategic orientation towards the region, underscored by their common stance of the achieving denuclearisation of North Korea. Yet there were differences in the fine-print, highlighted by President Xi’s advocacy of a dialogue with North Korea to supplement UN backed economic pressure that was being imposed on Pyongyang. But using much harsher rhetoric President Trump described Pyongyang’s leadership as “the murderous North Korean regime,” and urged all “responsible nations” to stop arming, financing and trading with it.
Mr. Trump in his remarks seemed to reverse the Pivot to Asia doctrine of the Obama administration, aimed at China’s military containment in partnership with regional allies in the Asia-Pacific. On the contrary, Mr. Trump said that, US and China “have an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between our two countries and improve the lives of our citizens [and] as long as we stand together, with others if necessary, against those who threaten our civilization, that threat will never happen; it doesn’t even have a chance”.
President Xi also highlighted that the Pacific Ocean was big enough to accommodate both China and the United States. He said that China would soon invite US Defence Secretary James Mattis to visit China, and also arrange for a visit by a Chinese military delegation to the US.
