China will open wider despite US trade war
The trade war between China and the US began on July 6. China announced that its countermeasures against US protectionist tariffs took effect at noon. The Ministry of Commerce stressed in a statement that China will unswervingly expand reform and opening-up, protect entrepreneurship and intellectual property rights, and create a sound business environment for foreign companies in China.
China has experienced 40 years of fairly smooth reform and opening-up in a relatively relaxed international environment, except during temporary tensions with the West. The trade war will make many feel the external environment is changing, and that it will take on the pressure and risks that have not been seen in a long time.
The external pressure will force the Chinese to review domestic and foreign policies. We hope much of the pressure will push the country toward further reform and opening-up and create greater social vitality and tenacity, rather than push it toward stricter social administration and conservative policies against liberal society.
The China-US trade war is not merely between the two countries. It also shows two directions of development. The US represents unilateralism, protectionism and economic nationalism, vis-à-vis China’s push for multilateralism and free trade. We must uphold reform and opening-up, which requires broad national participation, demanding a high-degree of liberalism as the basis and calling for society’s participation to make it a “people’s war.”
When a country is confronted with difficulties and risks, stricter management is inevitable. However, such measures should be temporary and their purpose must be to prepare for greater vitality. It must not bring the contrary result with a tightened economy and restricted social life.
The so-called strategic rift between China and the US is a contest between the their ability to sustain development. For a major country to develop, it must have the organizational ability to maintain social order and abundant social vitality and creativity. China has an advantage on the former, while the US is good at the latter. The US system falls short on the first indicator, and some people believe that it will be difficult for China to make the latter a strong point.
It is very likely that this will be the last-ditch effort for China’s rise. China must enhance its social vitality, release the potential of people’s intelligence, enthusiasm and aspirations under the current political system, and eventually give every member of society hope to prosper.
Crisis creates opportunities in Chinese philosophy. If China strives for greater levels of reform and opening-up as a result of the trade war, then the trade war will become a historic opportunity for the country’s rise in a healthier way. We pray it will be the case.