At the end of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, a seemingly quiet meeting scene suddenly erupted.China’s representatives announced in a loud voice that they would no longer seek “special and differential treatment” from the World Trade Organization.
Without beating around the corner or playing Tai Chi, I directly unlocked the topic that the United States has repeatedly used to "beat" China over the years. After the American delegation listened to it, the audience was silent, and even those who usually like to "argue" didn't say a word.
This atmosphere is subtle-what is the Chinese move for? And America, why is it suddenly "speechless"? The logic behind it is worth carefully reading.
China has a good head in the United Nations.
This happened at the general debate of the United Nations General Assembly, a stage where representatives of various countries "gathered together to discuss Tao". Standing on the podium, the Chinese representative did not beat around the bush and bluntly announced that China voluntarily stopped seeking special treatment for developing countries under the WTO framework. As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere at the scene obviously changed. Some people were surprised, some nodded, and others were expressionless.
You know, this "special treatment" is no trivial matter. According to WTO rules, developing countries can enjoy a series of "green channels" in tariffs, subsidies and market access.
For decades, these concessions have helped China grow from a manufacturing starting country to the second largest economy in the world. But it is precisely because of this that the United States has been hyping this matter in recent years, saying that China should no longer take the shield of "developing countries".
So, this time, China initially announced the abandonment, the signal of the release to the outside is too clear: it was not what you forced me to give up, I was thinking about it myself.
According to relevant media reports, WTO Director-General Yevira publicly praised China's move on social media platforms, saying it was a "after years of consultation and effort, worth a positive decision", this public recognition is equivalent to the decision of the Chinese side in front of the international community.
From a tactical point of view, this is called "retreating for advancement". China no longer competes for this status, but instead makes the United States lose the "target" for continued hype. Since Trump became president in 2019, the United States has been talking about China's status as a "developing country", saying that China has enjoyed too many unfair benefits. Now China has taken the lead and dismantled the other side's "bullets".
China's GDP last year exceeded $18 trillion, per capita income just exceeded $10,000, although it has not yet reached the standards of high-income countries, but has indeed stood on the ladder of the great powers, when choosing to act initiatively, rather than passively, is a higher level of diplomatic operation.
In other words, this is not a surrender, it is a change of style, China is no longer relying on the "label" of developing countries, but is speaking on real strength.
Men are different, men are different.
This wave of Chinese operations, which appears to be “giving a step”, is actually the long-standing accusation of the United States to the “anti-General One Army”.
To be honest, it is that some people are united on the surface, and the reality is challenging, while the truly responsible big country can also include different voices and promote cooperation whileining its own position.
Under the WTO rules, developing countries can enjoy more loose market access thresholds, longer transitional periods, and even a larger space for subsidies than developed countries, which have played a big role in China's early entry into the WTO, allowing China to participate in global competition while having a breathing space.
But now, China has dared to let go of this identity label, indicating that it no longer relies on these external protective mechanisms and is willing to assume more global obligations.
On the other hand, the United States has enjoyed all kinds of withdrawals, tariff increases and unilateral sanctions in recent years. From the Paris Agreement to the Iranian nuclear agreement, to the high-tech restrictions on China, which one is not engaged in the "lone ranger"?
Ironically, in the same session of the UN General Assembly, U.S. delegates also frequently questioned China and talked about it, according to several media reports.
On China's side, instead of scolding or counterattacking, it directly threw a heavy punch-a real policy adjustment. This attitude of "you quarrel with you, I'll do my thing" made the United States a little unable to get down.
In the long run, this attitude will have a real impact on the global trade pattern. Don't forget, after the end of World War II, it was also because some big countries were willing to put down some interests to promote the construction of international order that the Bretton Woods system came into being.
The world today, at another turning point, could be the starting point for a future restructuring of global trade rules.
Moreover, this proactive adjustment is also a model for emerging economies, telling everyone that it is possible to play well without rule protection.This is more persuasive than the practice of shouting "fair trade" but frequently swallowing tariffs.
The status of developing countries will not change
Of course, just because China gave up the "special treatment" of WTO, we can't think that China has become a developed country overnight. It's like changing clothes, it doesn't mean you've changed your heart.
China has made it very clear at the UN General Assembly that China remains the world’s largest developing country, and that identity has not changed, nor will it change in the future.
According to media reports, the Chinese representative made it clear that he would continue to stand with countries in the "Global South" to promote a fairer international trade order.
This is not false. Looking at the data, although China's total GDP is huge, its per capita GDP just exceeds US $10,000, ranking more than 60th in the world. The development gap between urban and rural areas, east and west is still obvious.
Moreover, China's development space in the fields of education, medical care, retirement and other fields is still large, and can not be called "comprehensively well-off".
But because of this status, China can play the role of "bridge" in global governance. On the one hand, it is the developed country system, and on the other hand, it is the demands of the "Global South". China can find a balance point in the middle, not only fighting for space for itself, but also fighting for the right to speak for other emerging countries.
According to several media observations, this Chinese decision has won the support of many African and Latin American countries and is considered a "responsible great power" performance.
There are three aspects of the deeper impact: first, China has won the initiative in the WTO reform, and when others are talking about the rules, they can no longer use "you still get special treatment" to shut down; second, China has set a "model" for other emerging economies to tell everyone that it can live well without protection; and third, this active liberalization gesture may push the global trade system to evolve in a more fair and transparent direction.
And all this is precisely the proof of China's "common development" philosophy, not spoken by the mouth, but by action to promote.This also reflects the wisdom of Chinese-style modernization: neither according to the set of developed countries, nor adhere to the old path, but according to the actual situation, flexible adjustment, and continue to move forward.
The United States is "speechless" this time, not because it has nothing to say, but because nothing to say is tenable. In this move, China does not rely on shouting slogans or hard confrontation, but uses practical actions to break the other side's logic and firmly hold the right to speak in its own hands.
This “silent and loud” confrontation may be the model for the future of international games – it’s no longer how big the voice is, but who can really push the world forward.
China’s words at the United Nations are not just a statement, but more like a stone thrown into the dungeon of global trade, and no one can ignore the next.
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China announces that it will not seek new special and discriminatory treatment within the WTO framework. —2025-09-24 12:42· China News Network