On October 9, China announced the implementation of export controls on rare earths related items. A few days after this countermeasures were implemented, the United States could no longer sit still.

First, Trade Representative Greer publicly complained that "China refused to communicate by phone." Then Treasury Secretary Besant twice issued a conciliatory signal, saying that "the communication channels between China and the United States have been reopened" and "looking forward to high-level meetings."

From wielding the big stick of tariffs before to now eager to seek peace, the U.S.'s attitude has turned sharply. Behind it is a profound change in the balance of power. China has shifted from passive response to proactive play, using the counter-measure of "words must be kept true and actions must be carried out." The United States has to face up to: The hegemonic mindset is outdated, and equal dialogue is the only way out.

In fact, the game¡¯s runner-up was already in place.

Since May this year, China and the United States have held multiple rounds of economic and trade consultations in Geneva, London, Stockholm, and Madrid. The two sides have reached many consensuses on specific issues such as suspending tariffs and resolving the TikTok issue. At that time, the United States also vowed to "move towards each other" and create a posture of being willing to resolve differences through dialogue.

But this promise is like a wind, the voice has just fallen for a few months, in September, the United States suddenly turned its face, without a sign of tightening export controls on China's advanced semiconductors, completely ignoring the previous agreement of "avoiding unilateral measures".

This kind of operation of shaking hands with the front foot and stabbing the knife with the back foot directly shattered the trust that the two sides had built up with difficulty. When the United States uses consultations as a cover to delay time and its commitments as waste paper that can be torn up at any time, China naturally will not accompany them to play this "cooperation" drama.

Regarding the unilateral provocation of the United States, China's counter-measures are reasonable, powerful and effective.

Rare-earth controls were formulated in accordance with the Export Control Law, which not only listed five items, but also set a reasonable transitional period, fully in line with international practice.

The Ministry of Commerce has long said: China has always been open to dialogue, but only if it adheres to consensus.

On the other hand, the United States has continuously imposed "reciprocal tariffs" on its trading partners since April this year, and its policy has been changed faster than turning a book. It has even been brought to court by domestic enterprises because of illegal procedures.

The Chinese side does not abide by the rules, but wants China to "receive the phone at any time", which is not a negotiation, it is a means of "communication" as a pressure.

On October 12, U.S. Trade Representative Greer was unable to sit down and publicly complained that ¡°China refused to communicate by telephone¡± and wanted to put the ¡°disrupting communication¡± pot on China.

But this complaint only said two days, on October 14th, Finance Minister Bessent lowered his head, "100% tariffs do not necessarily happen", "working teams are in contact every day."

In just four days, from blaming the pot to rushing to seeking reconciliation, two times releasing the meeting signal, this "the last second hard air a second softened" play code, where was the original hegemony?

In the end, it is the U.S. side that finally understands that China is not a man-made, counter-contradictive board that hits itself.

This attitude is suddenly twisted, exposing the anxiety in their hearts, and there will only be more without compensating for the loss.

China's rare-earth controls on legal compliance export applications for approval in accordance with the law, never targeted a country, nor did it exempt U.S. ships built by Chinese enterprises, and kept the bottom line and left room.

But what about the United States? While shouting "dialogue", he never stopped unilateral suppression; as soon as he promised to "avoid unilateral measures" at the Madrid talks, he turned around and introduced restrictive policies.

In this way, "says a set, a set," it is clearly seen internationally, who is engaging in the destruction, who is speaking the principle.

On the morning of October 14, Beijing time, China began to impose special port charges on U.S. ships.

This measure is unambiguous and only targets ships owned, operated, controlled or flying the American flag by the United States and built in the United States. The only exception is American ships manufactured by Chinese companies. This precise exemption not only delineates the counter-measure boundary, but also leaves room for normal business cooperation.

In short, it is a mutual retaliation against China¡¯s shipbuilding industry and unilateral practices on the U.S. side.

The U.S. side is shouting to communicate, but has not stopped pressuring, and China will not naturally change its rhythm because of a few soft words.

Bessent's speech just dropped, the countermeasures began, this "counted, determined" execution, is the most intuitive performance of China's strategic determination, you say, I do my, want to stop China's countermeasures by using a few mitigating signals?

The balance of strength has changed, and the bargaining chips of the US have become less. Rare earth, the "vitamin" of modern industry, ranges from chips to fighter jets. Without it, it is really impossible, and China holds most of the world's rare earth refining capacity.

As soon as this card is played, the core industrial chain in the United States immediately felt that it was "stuck". After all, the loss of stopping the production line for one day is not a small number.

More importantly, this counterattack is not only aimed at rare earths, but also shows a strategic stance: it was only passively retaliated after being hit by the US tariff stick, but now it takes the initiative to defend its rights and interests, which makes the US have to re-evaluate the opponent's weight.

In fact, the U.S. side itself is also a mirror-like in its heart. The previous trick of tariff intimidation has long failed, and China is not eating this.

Looking at the cards in the hands of the United States, its core strategic resources are being led away by the nose, the domestic economy cannot afford to continue to suffer, and there are also many voices opposing tax increases on the political fundamentals. There are very few cards that can be played.

In the final analysis, the Sino-US game is whether we can find a way to get along with each other in a way that respects each other. The United States is still stuck in the old routine of "unilateral pressure + peace after the fact", which will definitely not work.

China does not cause trouble, but it is not afraid of trouble. Dialogue needs to be based on credibility and consensus as a link. The United States should think carefully about its unilateral policies, and the only way out is to put down its airs and engage in equal exchanges.

Nowadays, both China and the United States are the two largest economies in the world, and their interests have long been intertwined far beyond their differences. Any idea of zero-sum game goes against the general trend of the times.

If the US continues to use repeated operations of pressure and pursuit of reconciliation to shed confidence, it will not only increase the uncertainty of bilateral relations, but also add risks to the global industrial chain, supply chain stability and the world economic recovery.

China has always been reasonably restrained, and we have never been the provokers of conflict, but merely the guardians of rules and the supporters of peace.

But reason is not weakness, restraint is not surrender, and China's attitude to issues involving the country's core interests is firm, clear, and will never shake.