Despite China-USA numerous meetings for achieving stable and sustainable bilateral relations the “US Military Complex Theory” and its “National Security Narrative” persistently target China. According to global data, the US weaponry sales expanded internationally several times once a new conflict broke out overseas. Its arms sales during the Ukraine conflict peaked in 2022. Once again, US military equipment sales to foreign countries reached a record $238 billion in 2023, up 16 percent year-over-year. Ironically, the US State Department terms weapons transfers and defence commerce as important foreign policy instruments with long-term regional and global security ramifications. It seems that ongoing emerging conflicts, war threats and intensifying pressures on NATO allies to buy US arms, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Israel-Hamas, Red Sea, building so-called China threat in Asia-Pacific and Russia threat in Europe, cold-war mindset, bloc mentality, US built security blocs to target China are numerous reasons behind the growth of arms sales in 2023. Paradoxically, war causes death, suffering and inflation in the world yet US weaponry sales have increased and prospered during crises. Thus its military complex theory remained at its peak.
In addition to this, Apache helicopters, F-35 aircraft and CH-47F Chinook helicopters were sold through Foreign Military Sales to Poland, the Czech Republic, South Korea, Germany and Bulgaria. Moreover, Italy and India have privately negotiated Direct Commercial Sales authorizations for F-35 wings assemblies, GE F414-INS6 engine hardware, and Patriot Guided Missile.
Intensifying pressures on NATO allies to buy US arms, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Middle East crisis, protection of Israel, building so-called China threat in Asia-Pacific and Russia threat in Europe, cold-war mindset, US-built security blocs to target China are all reasons behind the growth of arms sales in 2023. War causes death, suffering, and inflation in every nation, yet US weapons sales have grown and prospered during crises. Moreover, most recently a delegation from the US Treasury met its Chinese counterparts and subsequently, the Western media outlets intentionally again hyped the issue of China’s so-called excess industrial capacity.
During the meeting, the US Treasury Department and the US officials raised issues of concern about China’s industrial policy practices and overcapacity, and the resulting impact on US workers and firms. It signals that the US may use anti-dumping as an excuse to suppress Chinese companies and goods in the future. In recent years, the hawkish politicians and military brasses have been intensifying their suppression and blockades against Chinese companies worldwide, under the guise of national security.
In order to prevent Chinese companies like Huawei from gaining a competitive advantage in 5G technology and entering the US and global 5G markets, the US imposed systematic bans/sanctions on these companies, citing national security. It has serious consequences on the US economy. The construction costs of communication networks in the US and its allies have been significantly increased and progress has been severely delayed. China built more 5G base stations in three months than the US did in two years. Currently, there is another growing trend among certain politicians in Western countries following the rapid advance of industries like new-energy vehicles (NEVs) and EVs in China.
Western policymakers are now intentionally implementing notions of national security and anti-dumping, labeling Chinese products as overcapacity or dumping to hinder their entry into US and global markets. The Wall Street Journal reported in November 2023 that some Chinese factories, burdened by overcapacity in a struggling economy, are attempting to export their way out of trouble, sparking new trade tensions. This rampant hype is typical blame-gaming by US governments and policymakers. Nevertheless, affordable and high-quality products exported from China have significantly alleviated inflationary pressures in international countries and communities. Instead of fueling trade tensions, these Chinese exports have positively contributed to challenging economic recovery efforts in these countries.
In summary, Chinese-made goods are intentionally being blocked from entering the US market, labeled as products of overcapacity or dumping. This will lead American consumers to spend more money on products of similar quality as those from China. Particularly, unlike previous US sanctions against China’s high-tech rise under the pretext of groundless national security risks, this time, consumer goods, especially NEVs and EVs, are likely to be targeted by the US for labeling China as pursuing overcapacity or dumping, resulting in ordinary consumers feeling the first effects of growing trade tensions with China. This labeling of Chinese products may prove to be a double-edged sword for both sides, with Chinese enterprises, especially NEV companies, facing multiple obstacles in developing their international business strategies. Seemingly, the US has been attempting to asphyxiate Huawei and control its global expansion under the guise of national security, but these efforts have failed. Now, the US is launching a new round of attacks, using overcapacity or dumping as an excuse to suppress other Chinese companies. However, these efforts are likely to be futile and doomed to fail as well.
Successive governments of the US and Pentagon have been successfully implementing its military theory complex to protect its own vested interests in the world. Whereas the Chinese government has been striving hard to achieve desired goals of global peace and stability through dialogue, diplomacy and development. China has been playing a positive, productive and participatory role in global governance. It has also been trying hard to achieve and maintain true spirits of internationalism.
views expressed are writer’s own.
