Wu Guangqiang

jw368@163.com

OBSESSED with the fear of losing world supremacy to China, a Donald Trump-led America is getting increasingly hysterical and paranoid. Since Trump took office in 2016, not a single day has passed without Washington’s provocative acts against China aimed at deterring China’s peaceful rise.

The release of the National Security Strategy on Dec. 18, 2017 marked U.S. official recognition of China as a strategic rival, along with Russia, therefore starting confrontation with China on all fronts.

Economically, Trump launched a trade war against China on March 22, 2018, and escalated trade tensions by imposing increasing tariffs on growing amounts of Chinese goods. In addition, discarding its long-held title as a champion for free trade and fair competition, the U.S. ceased to conceal its true colors as a despot and scoundrel, brazenly bullying lawful Chinese company Huawei and some others by adding them to the so-called Entity List, banning them from purchasing technologies or products from any American companies.

Militarily, Trump has been raising military spending on expanding the U.S. nuclear arsenal while maintaining military pressure on China by sending warships for “free navigation” in the South China Sea and Taiwan Straits. Some bellicose generals and hard-line politicians are clamoring for war against China.

To harass China, Washington is also seeking every opportunity to make trouble inside China. Its support for pro-“independence” forces in Taiwan and Hong Kong has never been more thinly veiled than it is now. Its permission for Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen to transit in the U.S. in her visit to other countries is a flagrant violation of the one-China policy the U.S. has committed to observing since it established formal diplomatic relations with China.

The recent riots in Hong Kong triggered by a controversial bill on the extradition of criminals to the Chinese mainland were used by Washington and London as a chance to stir up anti-mainland sentiment in Hong Kong. Overtly or covertly, China-abhorring politicians fueled violence against the Hong Kong government. Some top officials in the U.S. Cabinet met with Hong Kong’s notorious pro-“independence” media tycoon Jimmy Lai, sending a clear signal of interfering with China’s internal affairs.

There has been an orchestrated anti-China chorus in Washington in recent years. Regardless of their gentry demeanor and diplomatic manners, some top officials including Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are using every occasion to demonize and vilify China, repeating their groundless accusations against China over stealing, cheating and so on. A 130-strong anti-China mob consisting of hawkish retired generals and CIA agents wrote a letter on July 19 to Trump encouraging him to stand against China. The letter contained nothing but repetitive fabrications and defamation against China.

China seems to be in hot water, doesn’t it? China will be overwhelmed by internal and external troubles, won’t it?

Well, perceived from a historical point of view, all these incidents or events will prove to be ripples in the torrents surging forward and they will fall into oblivion before long.

A rational analysis will explain why this is so.

A simple yet indisputable argument is that the giant ship of China has sailed into vast oceans and waves in ponds or rivers won’t bother its voyage towards its destination.

Numerous institutional strengths will ensure that China can overcome all difficulties and accomplish its objectives. The first and most important strength is the leadership of the CPC, the largest, most competent and self-disciplined political party in the world with unparalleled capabilities on planning and execution. Compared with China, all its rivals or challengers are only too short-sighted, disorganized and weak-willed.

By now, China is so powerful economically, technologically and militarily, that any head-on collision with it will inflict destructive consequences on the aggressors. When its own core interests are challenged, China will counter without pulling any punches.

With its strong and comprehensive manufacturing and innovative power, China’s economy is much more resilient and risk-proof than anyone can imagine, and its open and inclusive economic policy is gaining more ground.

Despite the temporary unrest in Hong Kong and Taiwan, the mainland remains calm as it is certain that no one dares to cross the red line China has clearly drawn, that is, the national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Anyone attempting to twist China’s arm to do something will have their own arm broken first.

(The author is an English tutor and freelance writer.)