Pence’s empty talk is smashed by the facts

The speech by US Vice-President Mike Pence at the Hudson Institute earlier this month reflects Washington’s antagonistic approach to China, Chen Dingding, a professor of international studies with the Guangzhou-based Jinan University, commented in People’s Daily Overseas Edition on Monday. Excerpts:

China’s reform and opening-up has not stopped as Pence claimed, rather it has deepened. But it has never been carried out as the “playbook” of the US values and political system.

China’s development over the past 40 years of reform and opening-up has not been driven by a tail wind, instead it has been an uphill struggle in the face of a headwind.

The slowdown of China’s economic growth is a characteristic of its current development phase that attaches more importance to the quality and sustainability of its growth rather than simply its speed. It is ridiculous to equate the decelerating of growth with the regressing of reform and opening-up.

The important thing is that China’s economy and society evolve in a healthy direction even if the economic growth may decelerate to a certain degree.

China’s lowering of tariffs, establishing of the Hainan Free Trade Zone, reorganizing the intellectual property rights protection departments and its hosting of the first China International Import Expo, which will be held in Shanghai from Nov 5-10, all demonstrate China’s resolve to deepen reform and expand opening-up, which constitutes a sharp contrast with the US’ isolationism and protectionism.

The US leaders should realize that the cooperation with China is mutual beneficial and complementary, based on market laws. It takes courage, if not ignorance, to allege that China has profited at the US’ expense in their trade and cooperation starting back to the 19th century. The purpose of doing so is to give an excuse to stop China’s technological and industrial upgrading.

It is a surprise that Pence quoted from Lu Xun, a Chinese writer known for his critical thinking, it is worth pointing out that Lu also said: “A fact is something that has no consideration for people’s feelings as it can always smash empty talk.”