BEIJING, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) – Not long after its inauguration, the new U.S. government announced a 10 percent additional tariff on imports from China, effective from February 4, 2025.

This did not come as a surprise as concerns had been widely shared among Chinese public and academic circles that this administration, probably the most hawkish government in U.S. history, could adopt a more wide-ranging containment strategy against China.

That being said, however, China should continue to maintain strategic confidence and insight in managing this critical bilateral relationship. The new administration does not necessarily aim to wreak irreversible havoc against China, as the global landscape has undergone significant changes over the past eight years, alongside shifts in both China and the United States.

Recent years have seen shifting dynamics in the international balance of power. While America's share in China's foreign trade decreased from 14.2 percent in 2017 to around 11.2 percent in 2023, China's exports as a share of the international market increased from 12.8 percent to 14.2 percent during the same period according to official statistics. Meanwhile, China has been steadily enhancing its international standing and expanding its network of partnerships, especially in the Global South, mainly through cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and the BRICS mechanism.

China has gained substantial experience in navigating China-U.S. relations through difficult times. When the U.S. targeted Chinese tech companies like Huawei, China met the challenge head-on, making notable breakthroughs in chip technology. When the U.S. fanned the flame of unrest in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China responded calmly by introducing the national security law in the Special Administrative Region, restoring stability and enhancing the rule of law.

The U.S. containment strategy has failed to produce its desired effect. Although the Joe Biden administration intensified policies targeting China such as imposing tariffs and technology restrictions, playing the "Taiwan and Xinjiang cards" and hosting the political show called "Summit for Democracy," none of these moves has held back China's growth. Many expect the possible containment measures from the new administration to be "old wine in a new bottle," namely more tariff hikes together with more smear and disinformation campaigns against China as part of America's toolkit. For these familiar tactics, China already has countermeasures in place.

In 2018, the U.S. imposed extra tariffs on Chinese goods under the pretext of addressing its trade deficit with China, which proved to be ineffective. This time, the administration cited the fentanyl crisis as a justification for the new tariffs. It is unlikely to succeed either, as the root cause of the problem lies within the U.S. border not beyond.

Moreover, the U.S. government is facing intricate challenges on multiple fronts. Internally, it has "its own house to clean." The recent U.S. election has further laid bare the vulnerabilities of U.S. democracy and its increased political polarization. Identity politics has fragmented the nation even more, undermining its global leadership. Externally, it has yet to untangle itself from the Ukraine crisis and the Middle East conflicts. If the new U.S. administration pursues a confrontational China policy as a priority, America may risk overstretching itself and weakening its own governance.

However, it is not all gloom and doom for China-U.S. relations. Over the past eight years, bilateral trade between China and the U.S. has remained steady overall and totaled an estimated $758.4 billion in 2022, defying irrational calls for decoupling. Mutual investments remain strong, with China holding close to $800 billion in U.S. Treasury bonds. Additionally, China has pledged to invite 50,000 young Americans to visit the country in the next five years on exchange and study programs under an initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2023.

In fact, China and the U.S. could be partners in addressing common global challenges like artificial intelligence. It is important to rise above bilateral issues and focus on broader shared goals for mankind, ultimately working together towards a better future.

With more reform measures introduced at the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, China is embarking on a path to greater openness and development. China will continue to navigate China-U.S. relations with resilience and confidence, as it did before.

Xin Ping is a Beijing-based international affairs commentator. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.