The official CCP newspaper People’s Daily launched a new Zhong Sheng series on the US-China trade war. Each article focused on a particular reason why US actions will result in “inevitable failure”.

 

The first article (May 23) argued that “ignoring the rules inevitably fails”. After describing the US as both “a bull in a china shop” and “the international community’s biggest ‘troublemaker,’” it lamented that “the relevant policies and words and deeds of the US” lack “a bare minimum sense of responsibility” and are not “conducive to world ‘governance’ as opposed to ‘disorder.’” It stated that the US “has chosen a hopeless path” as a result.

 

The second article (May 24) contended that “zero-sum games inevitably fail”. It claimed that “the reason why people are caught in irreversible disasters is often their own stupidity” and  LEADERSHIP  “US politicians whose brains remain in the olden days of the Cold War mentality and zero-sum games” for being a “new example” of this phenomenon. It added that “as China and the US are two great powers, cooperation is the only correct choice for both sides.”

 

The third article (May 25) maintained that “going against trends inevitably fails”. It portrayed the US as a “disruptor” and “destroyer” of economic globalization and China as a “builder of world peace, contributor to global development, and defender of the international order” before warning that “history has proven that… whoever rejects the world will surely be rejected by the world.”

 

The fourth article (May 26) asserted that “rejecting competition inevitably fails”. It accused US politicians of “flying the banner of scientific and technological hegemony” by “suppressing other countries’ legitimate right to develop” and the US government of “abusing its national power” by “opening fire on Chinese high-tech firms such as Huawei.” It added that attempts to “check the strong momentum of China’s scientific and technological progress” are “doomed to be a waste of effort.”

 

The fifth article (May 27) argued that “being extremely conceited inevitably fails”. It claimed that “under the banner of ‘America First,’ [US politicians] never take the interests of other countries and common welfare of all the world’s people seriously.” It accused these politicians of using “naked hegemonic logic” before warning that “being extremely conceited and going against trends only wears down a country’s power and makes it fall from its pedestal more quickly.”

 

The sixth article (May 28) contended that “double standards inevitably fail”. After renouncing US politicians for using “empty rhetoric” on trade, debt, international rules, and human rights that “reveals confused logic and an arrogant attitude,” it described American exceptionalism as “a theory of civilizational superiority” that makes Americans believe they are “‘destined for greatness’ and ‘must lead the world.’” It also cautioned that US double standards were “clearly understood by the international community long ago” and often made the US a “laughing stock.”

 

The seventh article (May 29) maintained that “going back on one’s word inevitably fails”. It claimed that US politicians are “ignoring facts” while “criticizing China for ‘breaking promises’” since it is the US that has “gone back on its word and been fickle in the course of China-US trade negotiations.” It warned that “people around the world have a common perception that some Washington politicians’ breaking of promises is nibbling away at the foundation of US credibility.”

 

The eighth article (May 30) asserted that “insisting on having one’s own way inevitably fails”. It contended that US politicians have “ignored the strong opposition of the people of China, the US, and the world” to tariffs, protectionism, and unilateralism since they “have been blinded by ‘America First’” rhetoric before claiming that “being persistently headstrong and reckless is spoiling the international reputation and image of the US as well as disrupting the world’s cooperative environment for all countries.”

 

The ninth article (May 31) argued that “trying to be clever inevitably fails”. After citing “thinking ‘trade wars are good, and easy to win,’” “regarding going back on one’s word as ‘the art of the deal,’” and “abusing national power to defame and suppress other countries’ businesses” as examples of US politicians being “clever in trivial matters,” it cautioned that “when the US opens fire on the whole world, it also opens fire on itself.”