China-US High-level dialogue: A chance to improve their relations?

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Editor's note: Tom Fowdy is a UK-based political analyst. The article reflects the author's views, and not necessarily those of CGTN.

The second China-US Diplomatic and Security Dialogue was held in Washington, DC, on November 9. The talks were perceived as an attempt to stabilize deteriorating relations between the two countries and uphold joint cooperation on issues of international security.

During the joint press conference, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed that the United States was not out to "contain" Beijing or start "another Cold War", but ultimately sought a constructive relationship based upon fairness, reciprocity, and mutual respect.

Senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hold a joint news conference during the US-China Diplomatic and Security Dialogue in Washington, DC, the US, November 9, 2018. /VCG Photo

As a result, the conference struck a somewhat moderate tone in contrast to the administration's regular aggressive rhetoric towards China. While without, a more positive tone should be welcomed, not least in the build-up to a potential G20 summit meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US president Donald Trump in Argentina.

Nevertheless, actions speak louder than words and, in that regards, many challenges remain. Even if the administration recognizes that a form of productive relations with China is essential, nonetheless when it has placed so much political capital upon vilifying Beijing and building up highly antagonistic narratives, it has given itself little room to change course and navigate these conflicting pressures.

A reset in relations is desirable, yet will be difficult.

Pompeo's claim that Washington does not want another Cold War against Beijing is a positive clarification but must be scrutinized against the decisions of the administration in practice. Of course, to make the claim they do "want another cold war" is a bold statement which risks mismatching and simplifying the context of the contemporary world with that of the 1960s, nevertheless, there are some parallels worth discussing.

Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe speaks at a joint news conference during the US-China Diplomatic and Security Dialogue in Washington, DC, the US, November 9, 2018. /VCG Photo

What truly lets Washington's reassurances down is that for political gain, the administration has purposefully induced hysteria against Beijing in a way designed to scare its population. It has falsely claimed that China sought to meddle in the US mid-term elections, a claim supported by no evidence whatsoever.

It released unproven "intelligence" claiming that China installed spy microchips into the motherboards of Microsoft and Apple products, denied by their CEOs. Parallel, it claimed Chinese companies such as Huawei only exist to serve malicious purposes.

It has flirted with an all-around mentality of Neo-McCarthyism which opportunistically amplifies the notions of "threat" and "fear" for political gain, all building into the larger set of misleading narratives created by Trump that China has been somehow responsible for failures in America's socio-economic order and the plight of given classes in society. Thus, in every area, the administration has whipped up nationalist hatred towards the country.

Inevitably, in sharp contrast to the Secretary of State's words, this makes itself firmly known in US foreign policy, which openly forsakes cooperation in favor of confrontation. The state department thus has spoken of competition, than cooperation, threatening the productive engagement the two nations have pursued since 1978.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) gestures beside former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on November 8, 2018. /VCG Photo

Yet, the conference outlined that Washington still held the recognition that some cooperation with China is essential. Nevertheless, it cannot go forward with the belief that it can expect goodwill measures from Beijing in cooperating on a number of issues on one hand, while openly pursuing confrontation for a domestic audience on the other.

Pompeo spoke of Iran and the DPRK, issues on which China has offered a long history of cooperation for the good of the international community. But, as the administration purposefully whips up distrust and suspicion, how can such positive work be sustained and organized in the long run?

Cooperation must rely on positivity, sincerity and finding common ground, not branding the country in question a quasi-enemy and a threat to your system. US-China relations cannot be a zero-sum state of competition.

Therefore, in conclusion, this high-level dialogue certainly contained elements of what some have been hoping for, but there is so much more needs to be done. It is absolutely crucial that the US-China relationship is stabilized in a way that reduces the risks for the international community and produces beneficial outcomes for all. Confrontation is not an option.

Still, however, the jury is out as to whether the Trump administration can play its part in ensuring that.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, contact us at opinions@cgtn.com)