Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government
In the wake of President Joe Biden’s meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping last month, there has been much talk of “putting a floor” under U.S.-China relations. The phrase is soothing, implying stability, progress, and time — time enough to work out differences, sweep away historical baggage, and come to the realization that the U.S.-China rivalry is just a big misunderstanding. If the two nations simply get together and talk more often, so the theory goes, they can replace disagreements with what the Chinese call “win-win” cooperation.
In reality, however, there is no misunderstanding — and nothing but the flimsiest of floors to build on. The United States and China view each other clearly and dislike what they see for good reasons. Most of the core issues in the relationship are win-lose in nature.
Consider that Taiwan can be ruled from Taipei or Beijing but not both. The South China Sea can be an international waterway or a Chinese lake. Russia can be crippled with sanctions or propped up with oil and gas deals. The internet can be open and free or state-controlled and heavily censored. Even transnational issues are infused with elements of zero-sum competition. Where did COVID-19 come from? How should climate change be addressed? Ask around Washington and Beijing, and you’ll likely get opposing answers.
