Editor's note: The article was first published by Global Times on October 25, 2019. The article does not necessarily reflect the views of CGTN.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on October 24 delivered a major policy speech on China. Initial impressions were that his take on China relied on cliches he used in last year's speech.

However, Pence did express a more positive attitude toward improving China-U.S. relations. He emphasized the U.S. does not want to "decouple" and repeated how U.S. President Donald Trump is willing to start a new future with China.

The speech repeated criticisms made last year that included accusations of intellectual property theft, militarizing the South China Sea, religious persecution, and silencing freedom of speech. Pence also slandered China over Hong Kong, Taiwan and Xinjiang.

Pence did not hesitate to praise the White House administration's China policy, emphasizing its effectiveness and wisdom, which once again touched on familiar rhetoric.

It was almost exactly this time last year when Pence delivered a speech while the U.S. was preparing for the mid-term elections.

It's clear that Pence's speech was aimed at generating Republican votes for the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

In his speech, Pence offered a positive attitude in reaching a trade deal with China and improving relations.

Pence said the U.S. does not seek confrontation or to "decouple" from China. He also underlined the friendship between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The vice president expressed the hope that the U.S.-China relationship will bring more benefits to the two peoples and evolve for a brighter future.

Pence said the U.S. would not allow challenges to impede China-U.S. relations. He stressed that President Donald Trump is positive for reaching a trade deal between the U.S. and China. U.S. would continue economic and cultural exchanges with China. He also said China and the U.S. will cooperate on issues such as the Korean Peninsula denuclearization and the Middle East. 

Many experts on Sino-U.S. studies believe Pence's latest speech is different from his last year's in many aspects.

Chinese scholar Li Haidong, who specializes in U.S. studies, told the Global Times that despite how last year's rhetoric was considered a new "Cold War" declaration, this year's address is calmer and sounds more like a call for "re-engagement" with China.

Due to past diversity and the mutability of U.S. statements on China, it remains unknown which path Washington will take on the China issue.

The growing tensions and the escalating trade war have undermined the interests of the two countries. China won't be overwhelmed by America's hardline policies, which has been fully proved in the past one and a half years. U.S. political elites should recognize the fact and make true efforts to promote China-U.S. relations. As Pence has said in his speech that improving China-U.S. relations requires more practical actions, then the U.S. side should also learn something from his remarks.

China and the U.S. have different political systems. It means that it is impossible to change the political foundation of China. However, China and the U.S. have many reasons to stick with peaceful co-existence and win-win cooperation.

Different civilizations should be able to co-exist harmoniously in the 21st century to make the world more diversified. This is a universal truth. It is hoped the U.S. won't refuse to have a truly great try with China and other countries, to contribute American strength and wisdom for a peaceful 21st century.

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