Recalling an in-depth conversation more than a dozen years ago with John Mearsheimer, the author of The Tragedy of Great Power Politics, He Yafei says, “In the beginning if you pin each other on the board with a big “ENEMY”mark, then all your policy will follow in that direction, there is no doubt that the end will be tragic.”

In 2017, China called for the international community to make space for its voice, in particular the United States. Chinese political leaders said that China had no intention of competing with or replacing the United States, but that the U.S. should make peace with a China intent on a larger global role.

More on how China is adjusting its foreign policy to mirror its growing status on the global stage aspiring to become a new type of major power.

David Shambaugh: China’s Year of Diplomacy in 2017
https://www.chinausfocus.com/foreign-policy/chinas-active-year-of-diplomacy-in-2017

Wang Yi: A New Era of China’s Foreign Policy
https://www.chinausfocus.com/foreign-policy/chinas-diplomacy-breaking-new-ground

Wang Fan: The United States must Accept China
https://www.chinausfocus.com/foreign-policy/the-unites-states-must-accept-china

In the aftermath of President Trump’s Asia trip and China’s 19th Party Congress, it appears that the China-U.S. relationship will be led by two important new principles: President Xi’s “win-win cooperation,” and President Trump’s “deal-making,” which essentially amount to the same thing: a focus on more trade.

Source from 2017 Joint US-China Think Tank Reports.

A Relationship Transformed

The "special arrangements" such as Peking opera and dinning at the Forbidden Trump received in Beijing were aimed at making the US president feel at home and exposing him to more aspects of Chinese life so serious matters can be discussed in a more relaxed setting, according to He Yafei, former Chinese vice foreign minister.

Both Agree on Trade Benefits
The commercial relationship between the United States and China has grown enormously in breadth and depth over the past decades and has brought significant benefits to both countries, the Asia-Pacific region and the global economy.

Weighing Competition and Cooperation
China: The Chinese and U.S. economies are mutually dependent, with cooperation outweighing competition.
U.S.: The two economies appear less complementary and increasingly competitive.

Different Appeals
China: Constructively alleviate trade friction; Conclude talks on BIT; Strengthen cooperation in global infrastructure construction; Increase coordination and cooperation in macroeconomic policies.

Different Outlooks
American commercial policy toward China is most likely to shift toward more constrained or conditional cooperation. Reducing the extent of tensions will depend on how China responds to American concerns.

Veteran Chinese diplomat He Yafei argues that the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA) targets China, and, if enacted, will hurt the Americans in the end.

Many Americans have been told that international trade—and more specifically, China’s trade relationship with the United States—is bad for workers and hurts US growth. Some American jobs have been lost. But, there are positives, too.