Beijing has always been a ritual, and it is a common means to focus on firepower. But China must not only respond but also lead public opinion.
Passive clarification of the truth does not inherently control the right to speak. Beijing also needs to consider when to take the initiative.
From the very beginning, the United States declared China to betray its trust. After the stalemate in Sino-US negotiations, Beijing repeatedly launched a public opinion offensive against the United States. At the same time as China and the United States upgraded, they ushered in some changes.
The sincerity of continuing negotiations is not lost in the highlands.
US President Donald Trump said in an interview on May 13 that “we are negotiating with China. I have a very good relationship with President Xi. I will wait and see what might happen. We will meet, as you know.” That is, at the G20 Leaders Summit in Japan, it is likely to be a fruitful meeting.”
Trump released Twitter on May 14 and said, “If the time is right, we will reach an agreement with China. I have endless respect and friendship with President Xi,” he said when he met the media in the White House that day. The trade war is only a “small quarrel.” The negotiations between the two countries have not broken down. The US-China dialogue is still going on and will continue.
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on May 15 that he might soon travel to Beijing to continue negotiations with Chinese negotiators.
At present, the focus of public opinion is whether Xi Jinping and Trump will meet in the G20 in June, and when the US delegation will travel to Beijing. However, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce responded on May 16 that “the Chinese do not master the US plan to come to China.” The WeChat public account with the official background of China, “Taoran Notes,” issued a document saying “not sincere, come and come, talk and talk.”
On the issue of negotiation, Liu He said in an interview with the Chinese media on May 10: Sino-US trade consultation has not broken down. It is a small twist in the normal two-nation negotiations and is cautiously optimistic about China in the future. “The two sides also agreed to meet again in Beijing and continue to promote our consultations in the future.”
When the United States now said that there were negotiations, some Chinese media even issued the voice of “coming and coming.” This can not help but wonder: Beijing still wants to negotiate? In the end, is Beijing not wanting to talk, or is the United States not wanting to talk?
The dispute between China and the United States in this round is very simple: after the Chinese side proposed an amendment to the agreement, the United States believes that China has taken measures to restore tax increases. Liu He’s decided to make a visit to the United States from May 9 to 10 has already explained the sincerity of Beijing’s negotiations. As long as the United States is willing to continue consultations on the amendments proposed by the Chinese side, Beijing has achieved its goal. It is obviously not the original intention of Beijing. The position of Beijing is tough, but this is definitely not an expression of information that is no longer negotiating. In the negotiations, it must be clear: Beijing is willing to continue negotiations.
Behind the tough counterattack is the passive response
Since Liu He ended his negotiations in the United States and returned to Beijing, China has launched a critique of the United States in the past few days. The Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations held a special briefing on “China-US Trade Friction” at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on May 17. Emphasizing that consultation must be sincere, must be based on principles, and must be trustworthy. On May 18, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to discuss trade negotiations. Wang Yi said very strongly: “We urge the US not to go too far. We should change our course as soon as possible to avoid Sino-US relations. Further damage.”
China’s official news agency Xinhua News Agency recently published a number of commentary articles. From the title, we can see the position: “Any challenge can’t stop the pace of China’s progress.” “Knowing the US’s tricks” “There has never been a savior—“American reconstruction China’s theory can be rested. “Inverted black and white – the factual stain of American bullying.” “The world is still bitter, and I have been fighting for a long time.” The face of the United States is turned over, not very Decent! 》.
The commentary articles published by China’s official TV stations include: “China is ready to respond comprehensively”. “These smeared Chinese remarks spread by the United States can be rested!” “There is no power to stop the Chinese people from realizing the pace of their dreams.” “Why did the US side go back and fight?” Its real purpose is not that trade is so simple. “The US side keeps asking China to increase imports and sinisterly.” “Huawei Jedi counters China’s peace of mind.”
The commentary published by the People’s Daily of the Communist Party ’s newspaper, “ There is no challenge to stop the pace of China’s advancement.” “Who is talking about the new words?” “The American Loss Theory can be rested.” “Don’t be intoxicated. The self-deception of “victory” – “adding tariffs to favorable interests” can rest. “There has never been a savior – “the United States rebuilds China” can rest. “The kingdom of gentlemen, the first rituals” “what to add, what to do Innocent – “China’s compulsory transfer technology theory can be rested” “The incense is self-fragrance, the stinky self-smelling – “Chinese technology harmful theory” can rest” “The wind catchers, the wind will destroy!” “The wind and the shadows, the wind will destroy! 》.
From Chinese officials to Chinese public opinion, it can be seen that China is very angry and constantly denies that the United States has saved China and is constantly clarifying that China has not betrayed.
The United States claims that China’s rebellion has seriously affected China’s international image. China must make a counterattack. This is understandable, but it is not difficult to find out that Beijing’s actions since the trade war have found that Beijing’s counterattack itself is very passive. This is a counterattack under the American public opinion offensive and is the nature of the response.
Beginning with the release of Twitter by Trump on May 5th, the US official and the media continue to render a message: China has overturned the agreement. Beijing’s response began with Liu He’s visit to the United States from May 9 to 10. Large-scale public opinion counter-attacks began only after China announced tariff counter-measures on May 13. When the US preconceived leading the public opinion and posted a label to China, China’s counterattack action was slightly hesitant.
Real strength not only fights back
From the second half of 2018, China has strengthened the control over trade wars, and the US trade consultation information, the Chinese media will hardly announce. After the finalization of the united front of the public opinion, trade frictions can almost avoid the situation of confidence. But this has created a subtext of information: Sino-US trade frictions are being negotiated and resolved without major problems.
This has created a hidden danger of emotions and public opinion in the aftermath of the negotiations between China and the United States: Why is China and the United States suddenly escalating the trade war now? Where did the problem come from? In other words, Chinese people do not know each other and cannot talk about the United States.
Such a large-scale public opinion counterattack by the Chinese state media last appeared in the period of July-September 2018, when the United States successively imposed tax increases on China. The official Chinese public opinion machine, which has been almost calm for half a year, is now suddenly fired and attacked by the United States.
When Liu He arrived in the United States on May 9, he was interviewed by the Chinese media. After the negotiations ended on May 10, he was interviewed by the Chinese media again. Although this action was to boost confidence, Liu He was interviewed by the Chinese media last time on the trade war. In May 2018, it was the time when China and the United States reached the first agreement. The Chinese negotiators who did not often receive interviews suddenly appeared and voiced, which made people think about it: What was the problem? What is the situation?
Usually, do not guide public opinion, do not guide the people to rationally understand the trade war, but concentrate firepower at a certain point in time. It is shocking enough for the psychology of the Chinese people. Although such artillery fire can strike the enemy, the psychological shocks of the Chinese people cannot be underestimated.
Beijing has always been a ritual, and it is a common means to fight back on concentrated firepower. However, the trade war is also a public opinion war, a psychological war, and the ability to fight the public opinion war itself has won half.
China must not only respond, but also lead public opinion. Passive clarification of the facts does not, in essence, have the initiative to master the discourse. When to take the initiative to attack is also a consideration.
It is normal to have public opinion control during trade negotiations. It is also good to be cautious. However, things are too big and information needs are bound to be large. Don’t talk, talk less, yet most people don’t talk, maybe you can maintain stability, but you can’t solve it.
Trade Negotiations In addition to counterattacks in public opinion, China must also meet the information demands of all parties, guide the rational understanding of China’s position, and actively disseminate views that are conducive to its own position. More words will be lost, but silence is not necessarily gold. It’s obvious that the problem has been lost.
In short, it is necessary to respond to the other party’s filth and to communicate their position clearly.
