In light of the response to the so-called “balloon incident”, the US’ overreaction has made people question whether “guardrails” have been built between the two countries’ relations. Can cooperation still move forward when one side keeps stirring up antagonism and creating trouble? Before the “balloon incident,” the US had reportedly reached agreements with the Netherlands and Japan to tighten export restrictions against China’s chip sector, and stopped providing US companies with licences to export to Huawei. What is the aim of such moves by the US? Is it still possible for the two countries to cooperate? What are the prospects of bilateral ties in 2023? The Global Times reporters Xie Wenting and Bai Yunyi (GT) talked with Charles W. Freeman Jr. (Freeman), a former senior US diplomat who has witnessed the establishment and development of China-US diplomatic relations.
To break the ice for current China-US relations, the first move needs to be made by the US. We have a government which emphasizes competition with China. I think that is wrong.