A prescription for better Sino-US ties
China DailyMA XUEJING/CHINA DAILY It is a propitious moment to assess the state and prospects of Sino-US relations, the world's two largest economies as well as large military powers. To many in China, the US is hyping the "China threat" theory and thwarting the country's historic, rightful development by policies of containment: sanctions, tariffs, alliances and arms sales to Taiwan. One can usually forecast a US president's foreign policy by assessing the background of those whom he picks for top foreign policy positions — and Trump's Secretary of State-designate, Marco Rubio, and National Security Adviser-designate, Mike Waltz, are both historical hawks on China. With respect to China's economy, the readout of the Central Economic Work Conference is telling — using stimulus-signaling language not seen since the global financial crisis in 2009, implicitly recognizing that China's economy needs to "vigorously boost consumption, improve investment efficiency, and expand domestic demand on all fronts". It says something about our chaotic world when Israel, in 48 hours, destroys 80 percent of the advanced assets of the massive Syrian army and air force, from missiles, fighter jets and drones to munitions plants, research centers and chemical weapons — and sinks the entire Syrian navy in one night — and the astounding story wasn't even the main headline in the international press.