2017年，很多中國人和美國人還陶醉於中美關係時而擦出的合作火花。習近平主席和特朗普總統短時間內應邀互訪，世界羨慕甚至驚嘆中美數千億美元的合作大單。然而，天有不測風雲，美國在折騰夠了其他主要貿易夥伴後，來了個急轉彎，矛頭集中指向中國。不少中外評論家稱：總統親自指揮，掌握外界難分辨的節奏，副總統發表討伐中國的演講，政府相關要員扮演各類角色，造勢的，強壓的，邀談的，擺出了一副全政府對華搏擊架勢。中國堅決反對貿易戰，但也不怕貿易戰。中國一直主張對話、談判解決問題，但也不能把刀架在脖子上談。明眼人都能看出來，美國擺出的完全是一種進攻架勢，咄咄逼人。中國則是正當防衛，坦然應對。

中美關係到了如此緊張的關口，華盛頓的對華關係氣氛令人窒息。是有人想改變中美關係的性質和發展方向嗎？中美雙方能渡過當前的困境嗎？美方政治精英們多認為很難，擔心中美關係滑入新冷戰的危險，希望中方接受特朗普政府的要求做出讓步。中方智庫學者們一方面堅決反對美方的無理要求和霸凌手段，另一方面羅列高、中、低解決方案和前景，希望爭取不是最差的結局。

其實，中美關係正常化以來，雖經歷了不少風風雨雨，但總體上與時代發展潮流是合拍的，中美關係的“不爭吵”讓兩國和相關地區享受了難得的平靜和少有的合作氣氛。尤其是2008年華爾街爆發了歷史上少有的金融危機，是中國與美國等其他國家一道風雨同舟，並聯手激活了20國集團機制，共克時艱。世界見證了中國付出的代價和負責任大國的表現。然而，等到美國經濟逐漸復蘇，美國內右翼思潮鼓噪一波又一波對華關係大辯論，誤判中國未來是美國單極世界的挑戰者、競爭者和取代者。2016年大選後，這股思潮認定碰到了合適的氣候，從貿易摩擦開始，激化、放大了中美關係的分歧和矛盾。中美關係似在走向全領域的碰撞，所有能合作的領域，所有能互利共贏的項目，都變成了美國打向中國的子彈。貿易戰在一種幽靈的牽引下，正在被美國擴大化、政治化、戰略化。

為了中美關係的發展不偏移正確方向，為了中美兩國和全球經濟免遭嚴重打擊，為了全球經貿秩序健康演化，中美雙方需要真誠、平等對話，管控尤其是自我管控應成為刻不容緩的對話議題。管控是雙方的，是雙向的。中方迄今表現了很大的剋制，當繼續自我管控。美方是貿易戰的挑起方，並變着法子不斷向中方提出難以接受的要價，美國更需要自我管控。管控什麼，如何管控，管控的基礎又是什麼，我的幾點看法如下：

尊重主權原則，管控干涉對方內政的錯誤行為。隨着中期選舉臨近，美國兩黨之間激烈較量是很自然的事，當然也只是美國自己的事，我們只是看看熱鬧。可突然一下冒出中國干涉美國選舉的無端指責，證據呢？把中美正常交往合作說成是干涉美國內政和選舉，真有些貽笑大方。中國從沒有干涉美國的想法和本事，儘管如此，就權當是美國的提醒吧。中國應當繼續堅持不干涉他國內政的一貫原則。美國的情況就不一樣了，一會兒批准售台武器，一會兒通過《台灣旅行法》，干涉中國內政，破壞兩岸關係。還有，美方加大艦機游弋、飛越南海的頻率，甚至進入中國島礁12海里範圍，既侵犯中國主權，又攪亂南海局勢。更有甚者，美國官員放出話來，稱今年美國國防預算的增加是為了準備應對與中國的衝突，難道美國想對一個主權國家搞什麼軍事大動作嗎？說這話的官員不僅要管住自己的嘴，恐怕更要管好自己的腦子了。

尊重國際關係平等的基本原則，管控冷戰衝動和風險。一個時期以來，對華發動新冷戰的喧囂形成一股令人難容的勢頭。一些人在貿易戰的基礎上任意編造和放大中美關係對抗的論調。更有甚者，竟把令人痛絕的冷戰帽子扣在了中國頭上。他們多方造勢，硬是要把與中國打冷戰形成一股狂熱。他們對其他國家打壓、脅迫後採用哄騙手段，與美國達成什麼針對中國的“自願者聯盟”，還有人在積極喚醒所謂的“五眼聯盟”。中國將堅決捍衛本國利益，但對冷戰只會鄙視，決不會接招，搞多少隻眼睛的聯盟也不懼怕。中國行事永遠光明磊落。

尊重公正公平原則，管控保護主義和貿易霸凌。客觀地說，中美貿易失衡主要不是中方造成的，而是美國自身產業結構、寅吃卯糧的消費模式和濫用美元結算貨幣特權等因素造成的。早在上世紀70年代美國貿易逆差開始出現後，美國不但不下決心平衡貿易，反而任其日積月累，積重難返。就中美貿易而言，如果計算美國對中國的服務貿易盈餘，計算美國在華企業每年在中國實現的銷售利潤，中美貿易狀況將會是另一番情景。實際情況應該是，中國得到了所謂對美貿易順差，美國撈到了實實在在的利益實惠。美國不能簡單地認為我是逆差我有理。現在問題的關鍵是，在一些人的鼓動下，美國把貿易問題嚴重地政治化、戰略化了。新達成的美墨加協議便是明顯的例子，其中被美國官員稱為“毒丸”的第32章第10節第4款把墨加兩國綁在了美國貿易戰車上，嚴格限制了兩國的貿易主權，也侵害了中國的利益。

尊重社會發展規律，尊重各國自我選擇的發展道路，管控惟我獨尊的孤立主義。人類社會的發展進程中，從來都有先發展和後發展、發展快和發展慢、追趕和掉隊現象。然而任何人、任何國家都無權阻止他國發展。一花獨放不是春，百花齊放春常在，多元化、多樣化才構成豐富多彩的世界。中國選擇了社會主義市場經濟模式，民營企業要加強，國有企業不能廢。中國有權制定自己的客觀發展目標，中國的改革力度只會更深，開放的幅度只會更廣。中國將根據自己的國情義無反顧地前行，但不會把自己的模式強加給他人。競爭是社會發展的活力和永續動力，在全球化、信息化時代更是如此。中美之間存在競爭，但要合法競爭，而不是違反法律、違背道德的打壓，亦或惡意遏制。

尊重客觀發展事實，管控歪曲歷史的錯誤行為。中美關係正常化即將走過40年歷程，兩國交流與合作的成果及其重要性不言而喻，雙方也心知肚明。40年來，中國向美國等西方國家和許多新興發展中國家學習借鑒了成功的發展經驗，同時也吸收了它們不成功的教訓。我們感謝包括美國在內的所有與中國合作的國家。中國將一如繼往地與那些真誠合作的國家和企業擴大合作。然而有兩點事實情況應當澄清，一是中國的成功是順應了歷史發展潮流，是自己奮鬥進取、開拓創新、堅持改革開放取得的，而不是哪個外國的恩賜。二是中國的成功顯然為本地區和世界做出了力所能及有時甚至超過能力的貢獻。連續數年，中國對世界經濟增長的貢獻率都超過30%。我有個建議，請美國統計學家們不妨認真仔細地計算一下，40年來美國分享了多少中國的發展紅利。歷史將會印證，中美合作功在當代，利在千秋。

中國願與美國等所有國家合作，讓世界產業鏈、供應鏈、消費鏈、價值鏈更加健全合理，共同修復、改革、完善不盡合理的國際貿易秩序和規則。然而，任何想拿中國開刀的想法和做法只會走進歷史的死胡同，任何拼湊“反華聯盟”的圖謀也只能搬起石頭砸自己的腳。順便說一句，中國人的好日子不是過久了，而只是剛剛開始。

In 2017, both in China and the US, many were still reveling in optimism over the two countries' cooperation. Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump exchanged visits in a fairly short time, and the rest of the world was amazed by the hundreds of billions of US dollars in deals signed. That optimism soon evaporated as the US began to zero in on China, after finding fault with other main trading partners. With frequent China-bashing by White House officials from President Trump down, the US appears ready to engage in an all-round competition with China. China is resolutely against trade war, yet is not afraid of it; China always advocates dialogue and negotiation for resolving differences, but it won't concede because of coercion. All people of insight can see that the US is on the offensive, and China is on the defensive, responding to US assaults.

China-US relations have reached such a tricky juncture that many have difficulty figuring out what has gone wrong. Are some people attempting to change the nature and course of development of China-US relations? Can the two countries get rid of the current troubles? Most US political elites seem to think the answer to the second question is no, and they hope the Chinese side meets the Trump administration's demands and make concessions. Chinese think tank scholars are on one hand resolutely against the US side's unreasonable requests and bullying, on the other hand, they are presenting various solutions to the problem.

In fact, since China and the US normalized relations, despite all the ups and downs over the past decades, both countries have enjoyed precious peace and a cooperative atmosphere. In 2008, it was China, the US and some other countries that jointly activated the G20 mechanism; the entire world bore witness to the price China paid and its performance as a responsible country. However, as the US economy gradually recovers, a rightist trend of thoughts arose and gained momentum in rounds after rounds of discourse about US China policies, resulting in the misjudgment that China will challenge, compete, with and replace the US in the future and overthrow the US-led unipolar world order. Following the 2016 presidential election, this sentiment has found a favorable climate. China-US relationship seems to be headed toward collision; all fields where cooperation was possible, all projects that were mutually beneficial have become US ammunition against China.

China and the US need candid dialogue. Management and control should be two-way, and by both parties. The Chinese side has displayed great restraint, and should continue exerting self-control. The US side needs to exercise more self-control.

China and the US should respect sovereignty and manage and control behaviors that seeks to interfere in the other party's domestic affairs. With mid-term elections drawing closer, it is only natural for competition between the US' two main political parties to become fiercer. Of course that is none of our business, we are just curious onlookers. Yet there has suddenly been groundless accusation of China meddling in US elections. Where is the evidence? It is ridiculous to portray normal exchange and cooperation between the two countries as interfering in US domestic affairs and elections. China has never had the intention to interfere in US domestic affairs. China should continue adhering to its consistent principle of not interfering in other countries' domestic affairs. It is totally different on the US side. By approving arms sales to Taiwan, passing the Taiwan Travel Act, it interfered in Chinese domestic affairs, and sabotaged relations across the Taiwan Straits. Besides, US military ships and planes have shown up more frequently in and over the South China Sea, even entered 12 nautical miles of Chinese features, both violating Chinese sovereignty and creating chaos in the area. More outrageously, some US officials have reportedly indicated this year's increase in US military budget was meant to prepare for military conflict with China. Is the US planning any major military operations against another sovereign country? I'm afraid such officials should not only control their mouth, but also need to control their brain.

China and the US should respect the basic principle of equality in international relations, and manage and control the impulse for and risk of another Cold War. For some time, clamor for a new Cold War against China has gained worrying traction. More seriously, some have even blamed China for provoking a new Cold War. They have tried everything possible to add fuel to the fire. Through coercion or cheating, they have cajoled other countries into allying against China. There have also been people working hard to awaken the "Five Eyes". China will resolutely safeguard its own interests. When it comes to Cold War, China despises it, and will absolutely not get involved.

Respect the principle of fairness and justice, manage and control trade protectionism and bullying. Imbalance in China-US trade was not caused by the Chinese side, but by the US' own industrial structure, and excessive consumption and abuse of the US dollar's privilege as the reserve currency. As early as in the 1970s, when it began to see trade deficits, the US chose to let it accumulate, rather than make up its mind to balance trade. China-US trade will look very different when the US surplus in service trade with China and the annual sales profits of China-based US firms are taken into account. Truth is whilst China got the surplus in trade with the US, the US grabbed actual benefits. The US should not simply portray itself as a victim because of the deficit. The key problem now is, thanks to some people's instigation, the US has seriously politicized the trade issue. The newly reached USMCA is an obvious example. The agreement's clause 32.10.4, which US officials dubbed as a "poison pill", has bound Mexico and Canada to the US trade bandwagon, constraining the two countries' sovereign rights on trade and harming Chinese interests.

China and the US should respect rules of social progress, respect countries' own choice of development paths, and manage and control overweening isolationism. Countries may develop early or late, slow or fast. However, no people, no country has the right to prevent other countries from pursuing development. China has chosen a socialist market economy model, it will enhance the private sector, and will not do away with state firms. China is entitled to set its own development goals, China's reform will only deepen, its doors will only open wider. China will not hesitate to pursue its own goals, but will not impose its model on others. There is competition between China and the US, but they should compete in accordance with law, rather than engage in suppression in violation of law and ethics, or maliciously contain each other.

China and the US should respect the facts of development. Almost four decades has passed after China and the US normalized relations, the achievements of bilateral exchanges and cooperation are obvious. For 40 years, China has learnt from the successes and failures of Western countries, including the US, as well as many emerging economies. We are grateful to all countries that have cooperated with China, the US included. Like always, China will expand cooperation with countries and firms who have engaged in sincere collaboration with it. Yet two things should be made clear. First, China succeeded because it followed the trend of history, worked diligently, blazed new trails and adhered to reform and opening up, not because of benediction from any foreign country. Second, China's success evidently made contributions to the region and the world. Chinese contribution to world economic growth has exceeded 30%. I would suggest that American statisticians look carefully into the dividends the US has received from China's development in the past 40 years. History will testify that China-US cooperation not only yields benefits now, but will continue doing so in the long run.

China is willing to cooperate with all other countries including the US, to repair, reform and improve the international trade order and rules that are far from ideal. But any attempts to victimize China will only end up in a historical dead end. Any attempt to form an “anti-China alliance” will only end up shooting itself in the foot. By the way, China's good days are not ending, but have just begun.