Editor's note: Li Qingsi is the executive director at the Center for American Studies at the Renmin University of China. The article reflects the author's opinion, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The U.S. State Department announced Thursday that it would impose sanctions on the Equipment Development Department of China's Central Military Commission and the department's director, alleging that China had violated the "Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act." The move came as punitive action against China for buying Russian Su-35 fighter jets and S-400 anti-aircraft missiles. Geng Shuang, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while condemning America's unreasonable act, lodged a strong protest.

On Saturday, Wu Qian, the spokesman for Chinese Ministry of National Defense also made a stand against US' sanction. He said that the military cooperation between China and Russia complies with international rules. US' sanction is the reflection of its hegemony that will jeopardize US army's relations with the People's Liberation Army of China. 

Resorting to international sanctions has been a common practice for the US, both during and after the Cold War. There are many kinds of sanctions: economic, political, diplomatic, military, technological and personal. In the past, China has been sanctioned by almost all kinds of US sanctions. This new US sanction against the Chinese military is yet another move aimed at suppressing the Chinese technology, especially military technology. 

Why did the US decide to put new sanction against China now? It is part of American government's efforts to wage a trade war on China, the decision came just three days after Trump administration announced new round tariffs on 200 billion US dollars' worth Chinese imports, and threatened to add goods worth 267 billion US dollars to the tariff list if China retaliates.

But China did decide to retaliate at once though in a much smaller scale of only 60 billion US dollars' worth American imports. However, it certainly is irritated by Trump who probably thinks China is no different from US' military occupied allies like Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and European nations, who would have no choice but surrender under his pressure.

Now, even Japan, ROK, and EU countries are fed up with Trump's blackmail and are trying their best to defend their national interests, let alone China that is no longer an enfeebled nation and strives to face any superpower under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

So Trump clearly has underestimated the determination of the Chinese people and their leadership to defend their national interests and dignity, as a result, it will be very dangerous to expand the bilateral trade friction into other fields. Of course, Trump's purpose is definitely to launch an all-out confrontation with China.

To sanction Chinese military is also part of the US' domestic political competition between Democrats and Republicans over the November mid-term congressional elections. If Republicans lose both or one of the two chambers, then Democratic Party will probably start the impeachment process against Trump who has been charged with "Russiagate" and even treason, which would mean the end of his presidency.

So, Trump has tried every means to transfer domestic contradiction abroad and blamed the whole world for its own problems. Now, the world is gradually becoming aware of Trump's purpose to make "America Great Again" by sacrificing others.

Can Trump realize his goal by exerting radical pressure against China including military sanctions? Certainly, no. Historically, China has made through trade, military and political sanctions imposed by the US, there is no reason for our country to fear the current sanctions at all. As a matter of fact, Trump's open hostility to China is not always a bad thing, since it could hopefully awaken some Chinese who always have very unrealistic expectation from the US, and prepare to defend the national interest.

As to the military technology sanction, it is clear that China has so far achieved enormously in fields that were sanctioned by the US, particularly the military equipment. However, fields in which China relies on US imports, such as computer chips, are still awaiting major breakthroughs. 

American sanction against Chinese purchase of Russian military equipment also aims at playing off China-Russia bilateral relations to ideally kill four birds with one stone: punish Russia, punish China, separate them from each other and shut up those who clutch to "Russiagate" back home!

But such one-sided wishes will only further consolidate China-Russia comprehensive strategic coordinated bilateral relations, as both understand that if one of them is defeated by the US, the other one will be the next to be defeated, and so they have to work together closely for self-defense.

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