2017年，很多中国人和美国人还陶醉于中美关系时而擦出的合作火花。习近平主席和特朗普总统短时间内应邀互访，世界羡慕甚至惊叹中美数千亿美元的合作大单。然而，天有不测风云，美国在折腾够了其他主要贸易伙伴后，来了个急转弯，矛头集中指向中国。不少中外评论家称：总统亲自指挥，掌握外界难分辨的节奏，副总统发表讨伐中国的演讲，政府相关要员扮演各类角色，造势的，强压的，邀谈的，摆出了一副全政府对华搏击架势。中国坚决反对贸易战，但也不怕贸易战。中国一直主张对话、谈判解决问题，但也不能把刀架在脖子上谈。明眼人都能看出来，美国摆出的完全是一种进攻架势，咄咄逼人。中国则是正当防卫，坦然应对。

中美关系到了如此紧张的关口，华盛顿的对华关系气氛令人窒息。是有人想改变中美关系的性质和发展方向吗？中美双方能渡过当前的困境吗？美方政治精英们多认为很难，担心中美关系滑入新冷战的危险，希望中方接受特朗普政府的要求做出让步。中方智库学者们一方面坚决反对美方的无理要求和霸凌手段，另一方面罗列高、中、低解决方案和前景，希望争取不是最差的结局。

其实，中美关系正常化以来，虽经历了不少风风雨雨，但总体上与时代发展潮流是合拍的，中美关系的“不争吵”让两国和相关地区享受了难得的平静和少有的合作气氛。尤其是2008年华尔街爆发了历史上少有的金融危机，是中国与美国等其他国家一道风雨同舟，并联手激活了20国集团机制，共克时艰。世界见证了中国付出的代价和负责任大国的表现。然而，等到美国经济逐渐复苏，美国内右翼思潮鼓噪一波又一波对华关系大辩论，误判中国未来是美国单极世界的挑战者、竞争者和取代者。2016年大选后，这股思潮认定碰到了合适的气候，从贸易摩擦开始，激化、放大了中美关系的分歧和矛盾。中美关系似在走向全领域的碰撞，所有能合作的领域，所有能互利共赢的项目，都变成了美国打向中国的子弹。贸易战在一种幽灵的牵引下，正在被美国扩大化、政治化、战略化。

为了中美关系的发展不偏移正确方向，为了中美两国和全球经济免遭严重打击，为了全球经贸秩序健康演化，中美双方需要真诚、平等对话，管控尤其是自我管控应成为刻不容缓的对话议题。管控是双方的，是双向的。中方迄今表现了很大的克制，当继续自我管控。美方是贸易战的挑起方，并变着法子不断向中方提出难以接受的要价，美国更需要自我管控。管控什么，如何管控，管控的基础又是什么，我的几点看法如下：

尊重主权原则，管控干涉对方内政的错误行为。随着中期选举临近，美国两党之间激烈较量是很自然的事，当然也只是美国自己的事，我们只是看看热闹。可突然一下冒出中国干涉美国选举的无端指责，证据呢？把中美正常交往合作说成是干涉美国内政和选举，真有些贻笑大方。中国从没有干涉美国的想法和本事，尽管如此，就权当是美国的提醒吧。中国应当继续坚持不干涉他国内政的一贯原则。美国的情况就不一样了，一会儿批准售台武器，一会儿通过《台湾旅行法》，干涉中国内政，破坏两岸关系。还有，美方加大舰机游弋、飞越南海的频率，甚至进入中国岛礁12海里范围，既侵犯中国主权，又搅乱南海局势。更有甚者，美国官员放出话来，称今年美国国防预算的增加是为了准备应对与中国的冲突，难道美国想对一个主权国家搞什么军事大动作吗？说这话的官员不仅要管住自己的嘴，恐怕更要管好自己的脑子了。

尊重国际关系平等的基本原则，管控冷战冲动和风险。一个时期以来，对华发动新冷战的喧嚣形成一股令人难容的势头。一些人在贸易战的基础上任意编造和放大中美关系对抗的论调。更有甚者，竟把令人痛绝的冷战帽子扣在了中国头上。他们多方造势，硬是要把与中国打冷战形成一股狂热。他们对其他国家打压、胁迫后采用哄骗手段，与美国达成什么针对中国的“自愿者联盟”，还有人在积极唤醒所谓的“五眼联盟”。中国将坚决捍卫本国利益，但对冷战只会鄙视，决不会接招，搞多少只眼睛的联盟也不惧怕。中国行事永远光明磊落。

尊重公正公平原则，管控保护主义和贸易霸凌。客观地说，中美贸易失衡主要不是中方造成的，而是美国自身产业结构、寅吃卯粮的消费模式和滥用美元结算货币特权等因素造成的。早在上世纪70年代美国贸易逆差开始出现后，美国不但不下决心平衡贸易，反而任其日积月累，积重难返。就中美贸易而言，如果计算美国对中国的服务贸易盈余，计算美国在华企业每年在中国实现的销售利润，中美贸易状况将会是另一番情景。实际情况应该是，中国得到了所谓对美贸易顺差，美国捞到了实实在在的利益实惠。美国不能简单地认为我是逆差我有理。现在问题的关键是，在一些人的鼓动下，美国把贸易问题严重地政治化、战略化了。新达成的美墨加协议便是明显的例子，其中被美国官员称为“毒丸”的第32章第10节第4款把墨加两国绑在了美国贸易战车上，严格限制了两国的贸易主权，也侵害了中国的利益。

尊重社会发展规律，尊重各国自我选择的发展道路，管控惟我独尊的孤立主义。人类社会的发展进程中，从来都有先发展和后发展、发展快和发展慢、追赶和掉队现象。然而任何人、任何国家都无权阻止他国发展。一花独放不是春，百花齐放春常在，多元化、多样化才构成丰富多彩的世界。中国选择了社会主义市场经济模式，民营企业要加强，国有企业不能废。中国有权制定自己的客观发展目标，中国的改革力度只会更深，开放的幅度只会更广。中国将根据自己的国情义无反顾地前行，但不会把自己的模式强加给他人。竞争是社会发展的活力和永续动力，在全球化、信息化时代更是如此。中美之间存在竞争，但要合法竞争，而不是违反法律、违背道德的打压，亦或恶意遏制。

尊重客观发展事实，管控歪曲历史的错误行为。中美关系正常化即将走过40年历程，两国交流与合作的成果及其重要性不言而喻，双方也心知肚明。40年来，中国向美国等西方国家和许多新兴发展中国家学习借鉴了成功的发展经验，同时也吸收了它们不成功的教训。我们感谢包括美国在内的所有与中国合作的国家。中国将一如继往地与那些真诚合作的国家和企业扩大合作。然而有两点事实情况应当澄清，一是中国的成功是顺应了历史发展潮流，是自己奋斗进取、开拓创新、坚持改革开放取得的，而不是哪个外国的恩赐。二是中国的成功显然为本地区和世界做出了力所能及有时甚至超过能力的贡献。连续数年，中国对世界经济增长的贡献率都超过30%。我有个建议，请美国统计学家们不妨认真仔细地计算一下，40年来美国分享了多少中国的发展红利。历史将会印证，中美合作功在当代，利在千秋。

中国愿与美国等所有国家合作，让世界产业链、供应链、消费链、价值链更加健全合理，共同修复、改革、完善不尽合理的国际贸易秩序和规则。然而，任何想拿中国开刀的想法和做法只会走进历史的死胡同，任何拼凑“反华联盟”的图谋也只能搬起石头砸自己的脚。顺便说一句，中国人的好日子不是过久了，而只是刚刚开始。

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.