China and the United States have resumed trade consultations in Kuala Lumpur amid escalating tensions over sanctions and high-tech export controls. According to Qu Qiang, a fellow at the Belt and Road Research Center at Minzu University of China, the talks come at a critical juncture following U.S. measures like the controversial "50-percent rule," which, he argues, has disrupted global supply chains and created widespread uncertainty. Qu warns that continued confrontation, including disputes over rare earths, could severely impact global tech production. He asserts that China's principle of cooperation over confrontation not only supports regional stability but also strengthens trade, as demonstrated by the growing China-ASEAN ties.