Trump needs cooperation for success

Editor's note: US President Donald Trump’s China policy has been inconsistent and unstable. So how do we evaluate Sino-US ties, especially after the US National Security Strategy report called China a “strategic competitor”, instead of a competitor and partner, in December? Two experts share their views on the issue with China Daily’s Pan Yixuan. could prompt China to take counteraction. It is time Washington realized that only cooperation will guarantee that the two sides continue to share the fruits of trade in the long term. Li Zheng, an associate researcher at the Institute of American Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations

Trump’s security strategy report, however, may not be as effective in practice, because some of his strategic decisions and goals are distorted and almost impossible to implement.

When the Trump-led US turned its back on its international obligations and commitments by withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement and the 2015 Paris climate agreement, it actually compromised its global leadership role and created an atmosphere for other world powers to work for the betterment of the world. China took up that role, expanding its global engagement and playing a more important part in helping improve global governance. Therefore, Trump’s fickle policies and instinctive decisions are to blame for weakening the US’relationsnotonlywithChina, but with its European allies.

But the sooner Trump realizes that the US cannot avoid cooperating with China if it wants to strengthen the US economy, the better.

It is time Washington realized that only cooperation will guarantee that the two sides continue to share the fruits of trade in the long term.