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While frictions between the United States and China in the areas of trade, investment, and technology development are certainly important, in fact the most critical driver of potential instability between Washington and Beijing consists of clashing security perceptions and policies.
In receiving the French president, Chinese leadership has shown it is willing to develop long-term relations with the most important Western countries, including those in Europe that have been at the core of the EU’s new China strategy.
Technonationalists, whatever their nationality, take a strategic view of industry and technology. They view it as fundamental to national security and economic competitiveness and take on faith that economic policies must have strategic underpinnings.
Macron ought to use his meetings with his Chinese counterpart and other top officials to boldly advance a broader European agenda on issues ranging from climate change to intellectual property and even to human rights.
What is the long-term future of the U.S.-China relationship?
While the United States and Japan share perceptions toward an increasingly assertive China, U.S.-Japan policy coordination vis-à-vis China is under strain.
It is easy to dismiss “acquisition” as a euphemism for theft, but in reality, trade, foreign investment, licensing, imitation,and, yes, theft have all contributed to China’s technological progress.
Trinh Nguyen will discuss the diverse coping strategies of economies outside of China in emerging Asia as they navigate U.S.-China competition and regional and global headwinds.
The United States and Japan should collaborate with each other to keep their edge, as China increasingly becomes a competitor in high-tech sectors.
Washington and Tokyo should continue to consult with each other to ensure that trade frictions with China do not disrupt their economic relationship.