US-China Relations - 19. page

Recently, Xinhua News Agency released a series of commentaries closely aligned with President Xi Jinping’s latest statements during his meeting with U.S. President Biden in Lima, Peru. The commentaries offered an in-depth explanation of what Beijing considers the “appropriate approach to China-U.S. relations for the new era.” Below are some key points quoted from those commentaries.

Seven Key Insights Provide Fundamental Guidelines for China-U.S. Relations:

• Maintain a correct strategic understanding.
• Honor commitments and act accordingly.
• Treat each other as equals.
• Avoid challenging red lines and bottom lines.
• Engage in more dialogue and cooperation.
• Respond to public expectations.
• Demonstrate the responsibility of great powers.

The first four insights serve as essential conditions for the healthy development of China-U.S. relations, clearly outlining a “negative list” of behaviors to avoid. The last three insights provide guidance for fostering mutual respect and peaceful coexistence, accumulating positive factors, and advancing toward the goal of win-win cooperation.

“Four Red Lines” Lay the Foundation for China-U.S. Relations:

• The Taiwan issue.
• Democracy and human rights.
• China’s chosen path and system.
• Development rights.

In the past, the development of China-U.S. relations has encountered setbacks, with the responsibility clearly lying on the U.S. side. As the U.S. transitions to a new administration, it is critical to maintain the hard-won momentum of stability in China-U.S. relations and lay a solid foundation for their future development. These four red lines are inviolable warning thresholds.

These “Four Unchanged Principles” Highlight China’s Commitment to Its Diplomatic Approach Toward the U.S.

• China’s commitment to the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations remains unchanged.
• The principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation in handling China-U.S. relations remain unchanged.
• The firm stance of safeguarding China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests remains unchanged.
• The aspiration to continue the traditional friendship between the Chinese and American peoples remains unchanged.

The declaration of the “Four Unchanged Principles” reflects China’s consistent policy stance toward the U.S., demonstrating its willingness to continue dialogue, expand cooperation, and manage differences with the U.S. China aims to ensure a smooth transition in China-U.S. relations, benefit the peoples of both countries, and inject greater stability and certainty into the fragile equilibrium of their relationship.

Sources:
1. Xinhua, December 24, 2024
http://www.news.cn/world/20241224/be3b56ba0a964b12a4ddbc22c10553da/c.html
2. Xinhua, December 9, 2024
http://www.news.cn/world/20241209/6ad185b8ef474ad49f6a8f8ba8f1b5b5/c.html
3. Xinhua, December 16, 2024
http://www.news.cn/world/20241216/6a7dad0834e240deb29c38f6f53d685d/c.html
4. Xinhua, December 23, 2024
http://www.news.cn/world/20241223/b53587aba1f946c4a394a33951a4e9eb/c.html

China News Service, the second largest state news agency in China, recently cited U.S. government statistics reporting that the number of foreign students receiving undergraduate and higher education in the United States exceeded 1.12 million in the 2023-2024 academic year. This was the highest number on record since data collection began in 1948. The figure represents a seven percent year-over-year growth in the international student body studying in the U.S., with international students accounting for 5.9 percent of all higher education students in America.

More international students came from India than any other country, numbering approximately 332,000 (a year-over-year increase of 23.3 percent) and accounting for 29.4 percent of all international students in the U.S. Chinese students were the second-most numerous, numbering approximately 277,00 (a year-over-year decrease of 4.2 percent), accounting for 24.6 percent of international students. This was the first year since 2009 that the number of Indian students in the U.S. exceeded the number of Chinese students. Korean students students were the third most-numerous, with approximately 43,000 Koreans receiving higher education in the U.S., a year-over-year decrease of 1.6 percent.

About 280,000 international students are studying mathematics and computer science, which are the most popular majors among the international student body. Around 210,000 are studying engineering, and approximately 160,000 students are majoring in business and management. New York University has the largest number of international students. Northeastern University ranks second, and Columbia University ranks third. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, international students contributed approximately $50 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023.

Source: China News Service, November 19, 2024
https://www.chinanews.com/gj/2024/11-19/10321795.shtml

Global Times, a tabloid under the CCP’s flagship newspaper People’s Daily, recently reported that multiple universities in the United States have issued notices recommending that international students return to school as soon as possible before President-elect Trump officially takes office, citing the “uncertainty” regarding Trump’s immigration policies. Below are some key excerpts from the Global Times report.

Universities such as the University of Southern California, Quinnipiac University, Cornell University, Pennsylvania State University and Wesleyan University have issued warnings for students and faculty holding study visas and exchange visitor visas. In 2017, during his first presidential term, Trump signed an executive order banning travelers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Although that ban did not target student visas, many international students from relevant countries have encountered obstacles when trying to return to the United States.

In April this year, Trump stated that he would reinstate the travel ban to “prevent radical terrorists from entering the United States.” Cornell University warned that such bans “could go into effect” after Trump is sworn in. The university’s official website issued an announcement stating that countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Myanmar, Sudan, Tanzania, Iran, and Libya may become targets, and countries such as China and India may also be included in the ban list.

Source: Global Times, December 8, 2024
https://world.huanqiu.com/article/4Ka3If7rtY9

Radio Free Asia (RFA) Chinese Edition recently reported that John Moolenaar, chairman of the U.S. Congress’s special committee on China, just proposed the Restoring Trade Fairness Act, recommending that the United States revoke the Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) for all imported goods from China. Earlier this year, Senators Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton and Josh Hawley also introduced a similar bill in the Senate.

The same proposal includes the ending of China’s “De Minimis” treatment for low-value goods from covered countries and requires small-value parcels from China to clear U.S. customs.

In addition, the bill proposes the use of tariff revenue to compensate American farmers and manufacturers who may be harmed by Chinese retaliation.

A few days prior to Moolenaar’s introduction of the new act, the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented that, according to an agreement reached between China and the United States on China’s accession to the WTO, the United States announced in 2001 that it would grant China PNTR status. He said, “Some U.S. politicians are trying to reverse history and bring China-U.S. economic and trade relations back to the Cold War period.”

Sources:
(1) RFA Chinese, November 14, 2024
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/us-china-trade-war-tariff-rubio-11142024150146.html?encoding=simplified
(2) East Money, November 11, 2024
https://finance.eastmoney.com/a/202411113235931318.html
(3) The Select Committee on the CCP (house.gov), Nov 14, 2024
https://selectcommitteeontheccp.house.gov/media/bills/restoring-trade-fairness-act