US must clarify its China approach

The Chinese people are so confused: What on earth does the US want with China? Does it want fair trade or does the US refuse to accept China~q~s development and seek to break the Chinese economy as its ultimate goal? 

中国人有一个深深的困惑：美国到底要对中国做什么？他们究竟想要公平的贸易，还是不接受中国的发展，把搞垮中国经济作为终极目标？

This is a major issue. For the sake of long-term interests and the well-being of the Chinese and the US people, as well as the world peace, Washington has an obligation to make a serious and sincere answer to the question so as to help Chinese society accurately understand the US intention. Such an understanding will profoundly affect the way Chinese society responds to the US-launched trade war and China~q~s overall attitude toward the US.

这是个重大问题，为了中美两国人民的长远利益和福祉，也为了世界和平，华盛顿有义务针对这个问题做出严肃、认真的回答，帮助中国社会准确理解美方的用意。因为这种理解将深刻影响中国社会对美方所发动贸易战的回应方式，以及我们对美国的整体态度。

Washington rudely tries to use a tariff war to suppress China. US vice president and US secretary of state issued fierce speeches recently. The US is also opposing almost all of China~q~s actions on the international stage and is suppressing Huawei savagely. This behavior makes most Chinese believe the US is against China~q~s development, and the real purpose of the US is to deprive China of its development ability and the so-called fair trade is just an excuse for stealing away interests. In other words, the US wants to rob China of not only its money but also its future.

不能不说，美方试图用关税战压服中国的粗暴做法，加上美国从副总统到国务卿一段时间以来的激烈讲话，还有美国当下在国际舞台上几乎“逢中必反”的表现，特别是对华为极其野蛮的打压，正在促使绝大多数中国人越来越相信，美国就是与中国发展过不去，要所谓公平贸易只是借口和对利益的顺手牵羊，美方的真正目的就是剥夺中国继续发展的能力。换句话说，它不仅仅是“劫钱”，还要“劫命”。

If Washington turns its jealousy against China~q~s development into all-round containment of the country, and would seek to sacrifice the two peoples~q~ livelihoods and world peace only to tear China down, then this is an evil policy that violates political morality. Under such circumstances, Chinese people will not yield to the US. We will do our best to protect the right of national development and not fear any risk.

如果华盛顿确实在把他们对中国高速发展的妒忌心理转变成全面打压中国的遏制政策，并且为“击垮中国”不惜牺牲中美两国人民的福祉和破坏世界和平，那么这是严重违背政治道义的邪恶政策。这种情况下，中国人民决不会寻求对美妥协，我们将倾尽全力捍卫自己国家的发展权利，不惧任何风险。

We have no idea what Washington will do in the 21st century. We hope the US clarifies its own thoughts and retains its authority, authenticity and effectiveness in responding to China~q~s query.

我们不知道21世纪的美国究竟能够做出什么来，希望美方在回答中方质疑的同时，做好对自我想法的梳理，确保对华沟通的权威、真实和有效。

China~q~s policy toward the US is clear. At least we don~q~t want to make it complicated. China has no will to challenge the US strategically. China~q~s development is for the good life of the people. China has wanted to rid itself of humiliation throughout modern history, which is a strategic psychology of a defensive nature. We sincerely believe China cannot pursue its interests by zero-sum expansion. Expanding cooperation is the only way for China to advance in the world.

中国的对美政策是清楚的，至少我们没有把它搞复杂的任何企图。中国没有战略挑战美国的意愿，中国发展是为了实现人民的美好生活，我们摆脱近代以来屈辱地位的愿望是一种防守性的战略心理。我们真诚认为中国不能以零和的扩张方式谋求自身利益，我们走向世界的唯一途径是扩大合作。

China doesn~q~t think it should or is able to vie for world hegemony. We want good China-US relations, and believe that kindness should be the priority of China~q~s diplomacy although there can be conflicts and temporary confrontation. Any risky diplomatic policies will not be supported by the people.

中国不认为自己应当或有能力争夺世界霸权，我们不仅希望发展良好的中美关系，而且相信与人为善永远应当是中国外交的第一原则。尽管中国与一些国家会发生摩擦，甚至会有临时性对抗，但上述战略善意既是我们外交政策的起点，也会是终点，任何冒险的外交政策都不会得到中国人民的支持。

What is the US strategy toward China? The question makes us confused. What does it mean that the US regards China as a strategic rival? Who should be responsible for US actions? There are the US leaders~q~ changing statements, fierce voices against China in the White House and radical claims from the US Congress. To which of these should we pay attention and which should we ignore?

什么是美国的对华战略呢？这个问题让我们困惑。美国将中国定义为“战略竞争对手”究竟意味着什么？谁的声音该为“美国”这个行为体负责？美国领导人经常变化的表态和其团队主要成员的对华激烈表态，还有国会的激进主张，我们应该重视哪一些声音，或者美方的哪一些行为，而忽略其中的哪一些呢？

Our general feeling is that the US won~q~t allow China to catch up with it or surpass it. More and more US people believe Washington should contain China at all costs. They are becoming increasingly influential in the US, triggering the US into radical actions against China. As China is fully defensive and has not launched radical countermeasures, the US is becoming increasingly tough and hostile.

我们的总体感受是，美方不能允许中国发展出与美国相当甚至更高实力、为阻止中国这样成长应当不惜代价的声音越来越多，在美产生的实际影响力越来越大，并且在促成美方一系列对华激进行为的发生。在中国完全采取守势、并未开展非常激烈反制措施的情况下，美方似乎正在形成对中国越来越强硬、敌视的惯性。

In a politically diverse US society, there is no powerful force that opposes extreme policies against China. Although there are criticisms of the trade war, most of them analyzes specific interests. They have no strategic rethinking of how to prevent escalation. US suppression of China is still expanding.

在政治多元的美国社会里，我们目前看不到有抵制极端对华政策的强有力力量的出现。对贸易战的批评虽然很多，但它们多是具体的利益分析，并未上升到有利于阻止这一事态发展的战略反思层面，美方的对华打压范围仍在扩大。

Have the US government and major US political forces made up their mind to escalate toward comprehensive containment of Beijing? Are they even prepared to further accelerate the process? Washington should figure this out and give credible answers to the Chinese and US peoples as well as the entire international society.

那么美国政府和主要政治力量准备放纵美国对华政策朝着全面战略打压的方向不断加剧，甚至准备进一步推动这个进程的加快吗？我们认为，美方应当清理这个问题，并且对美中两国人民及整个国际社会都做出可信的回答。

If this is not the will of mainstream US society and political elites, Washington should elaborate its real thoughts and carry out in-depth strategic communication with China. In the meantime, the US should resolve the two countries~q~ specific disputes so as to make breakthroughs which are favorable to both sides.

如果这不是美国主流社会和政治精英群体的意愿，也请华盛顿把他们的真实想法一五一十地摊开来，与中国开展深入的战略沟通，与解决双方的具体纠纷结合起来，争取对双方都有利的突破。

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