U.S. Ambassador to China: The highly competitive relationship between the U.S. and China will last for ten years, and "rising in the east and falling in the west" is not tenable

U.S.-China relations have a global impact. The two heads of state restarted communication after their meeting last year, but their rivalry in economic, technological, military and diplomatic aspects has not weakened. Nicholas Burns, the U.S. Ambassador to China, believes that the highly competitive situation between the United States and China will last for ten years and refutes the idea that "the east rises and the west falls".

U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns attended an online dialogue hosted by the U.S. East-West Center on Friday (March 15) to respond to the current situation of U.S.-China relations. Burns said that the heads of state of the United States and China met and reached a four-point consensus on solving fentanyl and restoring military communication. High-level officials of the U.S. government and Congress visited China again, describing U.S.-China relations as relatively stable since the second half of 2023. However, he said that the United States and China not only have obvious differences on human rights issues such as Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong, but are also competitors in military and technological aspects, and the highly competitive relationship may last for 10 years.

Burns said: "It is a highly competitive relationship. The two countries are likely to become systemic rivals in the next ten years. The competition is quite profound. In the security and military fields of the Indo-Pacific region, of course we are rivals. There is competition in terms of military power and influence. Technology is also at the core of the competition because technology determines the future balance of power, so the United States refuses to sell weapons to China lest the People's Liberation Army use the weapons against the United States."

Burns: Paying attention to the conflict between China and the Philippines emphasizes the firm support of the United States for the Philippines

Burns said that U.S.-China relations are the main focus of U.S. diplomacy. The United States has strengthened its alliances with countries such as Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Australia, and is committed to ensuring stability in regions including the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and the Taiwan Strait. He also expressed that he was very concerned about and worried about the conflict between China and the Philippines, and reiterated that the United States supports the Philippines in defending its territorial sovereignty.

Burns said: "We are very concerned about China's attempts to threaten and pressure the Philippines. All countries in the world also understand and recognize that the relevant area is the sovereign territory of the Philippines, but China refuses to agree and ignores the ruling of the International Court of Justice. The United States and The Philippines has signed a mutual defense treaty in 1951, and the United States has given strong support to the Philippines, which is decisive and clear."

Burns said that the United States has made China's economic policy its focus this year. He specifically mentioned that at the two sessions that just passed, China emphasized the need to increase manufacturing capabilities to stimulate growth and cope with the economic downturn. He said that if China uses overcapacity in electric vehicles and solar panels at low prices and sells them overseas, it will affect the global trading system and he will pay close attention to the situation.

Burns: The U.S. economic rebound and China’s experience of slowdown “rising in the east and falling in the west” do not exist

Burns said that China’s economic performance over the past 40 years has made it the fastest-growing country in history. However, China's economy has entered another stage in the past few years and is experiencing problems such as slowing growth, insufficient domestic demand, real estate crisis and low birth rate. The U.S. economy has rebounded after the epidemic, and its relations with many countries are stable. It does not agree with the notion that the United States is in decline and "rising in the east and falling in the west."

Burns said: "We disagree with the Chinese leadership's statement about the rise of the East and the decline of the West. We do not see that happening. Especially after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the United States has a strong alliance with the European structure through NATO, No one can accuse America of declining; we are strengthening strategically, militarily and economically."

He said that China has a great firewall that restricts the operation of social platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. However, the United States will use different platforms such as Weibo and WeChat to promote American ideals and correct the Chinese foreign propaganda media’s misinterpretation of American society and policies.

In addition, Burns paid a low-key visit to Hong Kong for two days earlier this week, during which the Hong Kong Legislative Council was reviewing Article 23 of the Basic Law, which attracted attention from all walks of life. Burns said that during his stay in Hong Kong, accompanied by the U.S. Consul General in Hong Kong, Gregory May, he met with American business people and journalists in Hong Kong, and also met many American and Chinese students, hoping to evolve in Hong Kong. Be more informed about important moments. He also said that the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong has a history of 181 years and operates independently. As the ambassador to China, he has no right to get involved in Hong Kong affairs, and praised the U.S. representatives in Hong Kong as a very representative team.