It's been more than a year since the U.S. government first initiated trade frictions with China.
Some say that China's high-profile publicity, represented by the documentary Amazing China, recording China's achievements over the last five years, rang alarm bells for the U.S. and triggered the trade war.
However, time has revealed the facts and proved that such claims couldn't be more ridiculous.
Various important U.S. documents set China as a primary strategic rivalry, and some senior officials of the U.S. Department of State even called the competition between China and the U.S. a clash of civilizations. Washington repeatedly backtracked during the trade talks, and resorted to extreme pressure and bullying tactics, trying to constrain China's high tech companies with the abuse of national power and resources. In addition, U.S. law enforcement departments also harassed Chinese citizens in or going to the U.S., and a large percentage of Chinese students in the U.S. are facing visa restrictions.
These attempts made by the U.S. over the past year fully exposed its blockade and ferocious strategies, and are not a spur-of-the-moment decision.
The U.S. was already "warming-up" in regards to the trade war when Amazing China hit the screens in March 2018. To blame the documentary for the planned U.S. provocation goes against the chronological order and the facts.
The root cause for the China-U.S. trade war is not China's high-profile publicity, but the U.S. ambition to elevate the so-called "America First" strategy above international justice.
Those who attributed the cause of the trade war to Amazing China have two problem mindsets. On the one hand, they don't believe China can achieve as the Americans do. On the other hand, they think China shouldn't succeed as it may challenge the position of the U.S. They admire and fear the U.S. at the same time.
However, we have every reason to doubt them.
Is it a fact that China, an enormous economy, has achieved remarkable progress with its efforts and historic opportunities?
Is it wrong for China to praise itself when Chinese people witness such progress after the past "empire" endured years of torture at the hands of western powers?
The pressure exerted by the U.S. over the last year ignited the courage of Chinese society. China does not want a trade war, but it is not afraid of one, and it will fight one if necessary. Such an attitude reflects China's resolution and adherence to justice. The country's composed countermeasures were also hailed by its people who genuinely believe that their country is fantastic.
As Mao Zedong said a few decades ago when summing up the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, "There is nothing to fear about U.S. imperialism. It is just a thing. We have gained this experience, this amazing experience." He then pointed out: "The Chinese people are well organized now, and no one can bully China. If anyone offends China, there will be trouble."
