Here’s a breakdown of the key points from the provided text,focusing on China’s evolving strategy and its implications:
* China’s Response to US Economic Coercion: China began developing tools and legal frameworks to counter perceived US economic coercion during the Trump management,specifically in response to export controls on tech firms like Huawei and ZTE.
* Rare Earths as a Weapon: China has demonstrated a willingness to use restrictions on rare earth exports as leverage in trade disputes (initially with the US). While restrictions were paused after a Trump-Xi meeting and soybean purchases resumed, they haven’t been fully removed and could be reinstated.
* A Shift in Strategy: Experts believe China will continue to employ this tactic – using economic tools as a form of retaliation - going forward. This is now a defined part of their strategy.
* Broader Implications: This strategy isn’t limited to US-china trade. China could use rare earth restrictions in response to other US actions, such as weapons sales to Taiwan or meetings with the Dalai Lama.
* Trump’s “G2” Rhetoric: Trump’s framing of the US-China relationship as a “G2” (equal geopolitical footing) is seen as irritating to US allies and signals a potential acceptance of China’s rising power.
* Global Impact: Other countries are observing these dynamics and may become more cautious in their dealings with China,fearing similar economic repercussions. The message is that challenging China carries risk.
In essence, the article highlights China’s growing assertiveness and its willingness to use economic tools to defend its interests and respond to perceived threats, particularly from the United States. It also suggests that this approach is likely to continue and will have broader implications for global geopolitics.
