❑ Negative peace is the absence of conflict and violence, which is necessary but insufficient to achieve lasting peace.
❑ Negative peace may be more of a brief lull in hostilities than a permanent end to underlying conflicts.
❑ The absence of violence does not always imply the absence of structural violence, which might continue the circumstances that give rise to conflict.
Different Stages between China and US Trade War:
1. In 2018, the US imposed tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports, citing concerns about China’s trade practices and intellectual property theft.
2. In response, China imposed tariffs on $50 billion worth of US imports, targeting US products like soybeans, cars, and chemicals.
3. The trade war escalated further in 2019, with the US increasing tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods and threatening to impose tariffs on an additional $300 billion worth of goods.
4. China responded with tariffs on $60 billion worth of US goods, including agricultural products and consumer goods like clothing and electronics.
- In January 2020, the US and China signed a Phase One trade deal that included some reductions in tariffs and commitments by China to purchase more US goods.
- However, tensions continued to simmer, and in May 2020, the US tightened restrictions on Huawei, a Chinese technology company.
- In September 2020, the US announced a ban on imports of cotton and other products from China’s Xinjiang region, citing concerns about forced labor.
- In December 2020, the US blacklisted Chinese companies that it alleged were linked to the military, including China National Offshore Oil Corporation and Xiaomi.
- In early 2021, the Biden administration announced a review of the US-China trade relationship and the continuation of some of the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
- In March 2021, the US and China held their first high-level talks under the Biden administration, but tensions remained high.
- In June 2021, the US added five more Chinese companies to its blacklist, citing national security concerns.
- As of May 2023, the US and China continue to have trade tensions, with some tariffs still in place and ongoing disputes over issues such as human rights and technology policy.
Negative Peace During the US-China Trade War
❑ The Chinese Trade War over semiconductors manifests the power struggle between the US and China.
❑ The US and China have a technology gap due to US export regulations restricting China’s access to high-tech semiconductor products.
❑ Due to China’s lack of access to cutting-edge semiconductor technology, economic imbalance and dependence, two elements that may fuel war, are made worse.
❑ In response to US export limitations, China increased its investment in the semiconductor sector and concentrated on producing low-tech semiconductors.
❑ Due to China’s continued reliance on US corporations for cutting-edge semiconductor technology, this strategy could exacerbate the factors contributing to conflict.
❑ It is crucial to address the underlying reasons for the US-China power struggle, encourage lasting peace, and create inclusive, resilient societies beneficial to all parties to establish lasting peace.
What do you think is the future of the US and China?