WHAT IF CHINA AND THE US ACTUALLY GOT ALONG?
Following the top of the warfare of resistance in opposition to Japanese aggression in 1945, Chiang Kai-shek, head of the KMT-led nationalist authorities, invited Mao, head of the Communist forces, to the wartime capital of Chongqing to debate China’s future and the connection between the 2 rival events.
Beneath the auspices of the US and inspired by the then Soviet Union, Mao flew to Chongqing for 43 days of talks, generally known as the Chongqing Negotiations, which led to a peace pact generally known as the Double Tenth Settlement. Though the 2 long-time enemies didn’t honour the settlement and the civil warfare resumed, ending in Communist victory and the founding of the Individuals’s Republic in 1949, Mao conveyed a picture of an inexpensive man in search of peace within the eyes of the worldwide neighborhood.
Now, the US-China relationship is at a important crossroads, with each international locations confronting one another on points starting from commerce and know-how to area, Taiwan, Hong Kong and human rights. Amid mounting considerations that the bilateral relationship will deteriorate additional, Xi’s acceptance of Trump’s inauguration invitation presents a possibility that shouldn’t be missed. As China’s prime chief has repeatedly mentioned, each international locations stand to achieve from cooperation and lose from confrontation.
Curiously, Trump advised reporters on Dec 17 that Beijing and Washington may work collectively to “remedy all the issues of the world”. Given Trump’s impulsive and unpredictable nature, it’s onerous to know if he means what he says.
Nevertheless, his sweeping assertion crystallises probably the most important concern to make sure world peace: Each Beijing and Washington ought to revisit a G2 method to their relationship, wherein they will develop a aggressive and cooperative relationship to deal with bilateral issues and sort out international challenges.
Following his latest journey to China, Thomas Friedman, a columnist with the New York Occasions, wrote that Beijing and Washington ought to group as much as sort out a a lot greater widespread enemy – dysfunction. I couldn’t agree extra.
Friedman advised that Trump ought to discover a “Nixon goes to China” transfer to hunt the much-needed rapprochement between the 2 international locations for the sake of a secure twenty first century.
Drawing from historical past and given the excessive stakes, China’s management ought to critically think about a transfer of “Xi goes to Washington”, to achieve the higher hand.
Wang Xiangwei is a former Editor-In-Chief of South China Morning Put up. He now teaches journalism at Hong Kong Baptist College.
