«--[· Preface ·]--»
China agreed to negotiate, but the United States made a moth and sent two aircraft carriers into China's periphery. The People's Liberation Army decisively met the enemy, and the Sino-US fighting began. Has Trump not woken up yet?
«--[·First contact after rare earth control·]--»
The plot of the Sino-US economic and trade game suddenly accelerated in October. In recent days, representatives of both sides in charge of Sino-US economic and trade negotiations this year have conducted a key video call. This dialogue has just passed shortly after the fourth negotiation in Madrid in September. "Will we still talk about the future? How to talk about it?" It has become a core issue that both sides cannot avoid.
This is the first official contact since the Ministry of Commerce issued new rules on rare-earth export controls, before the U.S. trade representatives initially called for a call, but was postponed by China.
This time, the Chinese side nodded, want to grasp the sincerity of the US side, and also to avoid falling into passive in the international public opinion. after all, this rare earth card is powerful enough, from October 8, China has implemented export licenses for a variety of rare earth products and related technologies, directly grabbed the American semiconductor, the defense industry of the "life line", the US finance minister Bessent said directly, "China has found the pain of the world."
The two sides finally reached a consensus. According to the simultaneous release of news from China and the United States, the next round of economic and trade negotiations is scheduled to be held in Malaysia, around October 24. In order to pave the way for dialogue, China expanded U.S. soybean purchases, reaching 1.2 million tons in the first half of October; the United States also suspended tariff increases on some medical equipment. But no one expected that as soon as the peace signal was released, the Pentagon would turn the table.
«--[· Two aircraft carriers pressing on the border ·]--»
The U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet confirmed that the two aircraft carrier battle groups “Washington” and “Nimitz” are in their operational zone, and re-established the normal deployment of the two aircraft carrier at the doorstep of China four months later.
The movement of the "Nimitz" is more targeted. This aircraft carrier, which has just withdrawn from the situation in the Middle East, has crossed the narrow Strait of Malacca and reappeared in the South China Sea. Knowing that the South China Sea is a global shipping hub and the forefront of the Sino-US game, the appearance of the US aircraft carrier here is undoubtedly showing off its muscles.
The other aircraft carrier, “Washington”, is moving north from the Philippine waters, and the Japanese government has confirmed that the aircraft carrier is about to enter the port for repair, supply and maintenance.
On the surface, it looks like a regular rest, but combined with the position of the Nimitz, it is not difficult to find that the US military is deliberately maintaining its military presence in the western Pacific-even if two aircraft carriers are not jointly trained, it can ensure that a battle group is active at any time. This operation of "talking about cooperation with one hand and showing a fist with the other" makes the logic of hegemony clear.
“China’s attitude...”
Faced with U.S. military pressure, the Liberation Army did not respond solely by speech.The Navy directly launched the 795 electronic reconnaissance vessel and Type 052D destroyer, and joined out of the Great Corner Strait into the Western Pacific, facing the U.S. aircraft carrier with practical action.
The combination of the two ships is deeply hidden. The 795 electronic reconnaissance ship is the "old opponent" of the U.S. Army, and has seen the U.S. military exercises many times, and the ability to collect intelligence has long been verified. The 052D destroyer is also called the "Chinese Shield", and has previously had "single U.S. aircraft carrier" combat exercises.
China's actions are at an accurate pace. Just as the Nimitz passed through Malacca and the Washington went north, the 052D decisively unsheathed its sheath. This breaks the previous pattern of "verbal warnings", using naval guns and radars to send a clear signal: the US military's military deterrence cannot scare people. After all, China has a hard card in its hands. In addition to rare earth controls, it has also imposed special port fees on US ships starting from October 9. On the 12th, it launched an investigation into the United States in the chip field. Military countermeasures are just part of the game.
This Sino-US battle is essentially a competition of chips. The US military is betting on dual aircraft carrier deterrence and wants to use military pressure to force China to make concessions at the negotiating table. The United States has its own anxiety: rare earth controls may delay the production of advanced semiconductors in the United States by 5-8 years. In September, U.S. exports to China fell by 4.2% year-on-year. Farmers' associations have repeatedly pressured the government to improve trade relations.
Agree to negotiations is to leave a window for dialogue, after all, the global economy can not withstand the escalation of Chinese-US friction, the IMF has warned the conflict could bring the global growth rate down by 0.2 percentage points in 2026. but the move 052D is a red line, rare earth control, chip investigation is more strategic counter.
“ ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ”
The game has not yet come to an end. October 24 Malaysia negotiations will be a key battlefield, the U.S. may take market access to talk, and the Chinese will pay close attention to tariffs and export control issues. The U.S. aircraft carrier is likely to remain in the vicinity, and the 052D will not easily evacuate from the Western Pacific.
The more far-reaching competition is hidden in the industrial chain. China's rare earth control will take the United States at least five years to rebuild its supply chain, and 052D's voyage proves that China has the ability to protect strategic interests. The United States wants to rely on the dual lines of "military + economic and trade" to exert pressure, but China uses "countermeasures + dialogue" to see what it means. There is no quick ending to this fight, but what is certain is that relying solely on aircraft carriers to show off will not give you an advantage at the negotiating table.