By Philip Yeung
China's golden moment
What a golden moment in Chinese history! China's airborne early warning systems with the advanced avionics and combat capabilities of its fighter jets have scored a stunning victory in the India-Pakistan conflict, forcing the hostilities to a sudden standstill. On a different front, China has coaxed and cornered the US into a reversal of its crazy tariff policies. With a 90-day pause, the levies have come crashing down to a measly 10%, How did China do it? Without doubt, what happened in one sphere has spilled over into another. A decisive victory in the air has made an agreement on the ground more probable*.
The triumph of military technology
First, the triumph of technology. China's advanced military fighter jets have never been battle-tested. Doubts have hovered over their true fighting capability among potential buyers. Not anymore. Any lingering doubts have been swept aside by the crushing defeat dished out to India. And the J-10C is not even China's latest fighter. Forming an ultra-smart aeronautical ecosystem, in a head-to-head fight, the Chinese jets have made short work of the much-hyped French Rafale jets. After this dismal encounter, the poor French have a hard time collecting the 5 billion Euro debt unpaid by India on the delivered jets.
China changing the equation in India-Pakistan conflict
In three previous wars, in 1969, 1971 and 1999, Pakistan had never tasted victory. Until now. This time, there are scenes of wild celebrations in the streets of Karachi and outpourings of gratitude towards China, its ally and arms supplier. The Indian parliament was in an uproar, with angry calls for Modi's resignation after the country had been mugged by a lesser foe. Hereafter, India will think twice before unleashing another attack on its neighbor. Victorious Pakistan lost no time in purchasing 40 of China's latest generation J-35A for delivery in August. Chinese military jets are expected to sell like hot cakes in the world's hot geopolitical regions.
Out-trumping Trump on the tariff war
Meanwhile, in Geneva, the long-awaited face-to-face talks between China and America took place behind closed doors without fanfare, but with astonishing results. The triumph of Chinese military technology in air combat must have a sobering effect on the US delegation.
Playing Trump like a fiddle
Unlike other countries tariff-targeted by Trump, China has stayed coy. Chinese leaders read Trump like an open book and called his bluff. They played the short-fused Trump like a fiddle. Trump was all bluster and puffery. The Chinese were as cool as a cucumber. Trump boasted that over 70 countries are lining up to "kiss his ass", begging him to do a deal. China refused to join the queue. Instead, it waited for the stock and bond markets to implode and send Trump into a panic as a stampede of panic-buyers invaded the supermarkets. Trump lost his nerve and practically begged China to come to the table. This time, instead of talking tough, he talked sweet. The 145% tariffs are suddenly down to just 10% after a 90-day pause. China has executed a masterful passive-aggressive game plan. The EU, by contrast, is getting a raw deal, being badmouthed by Trump as nastier than China. Sun Tzu, who wrote the Art of War, would have been proud of its modern-day Chinese practitioners.
The art of war and the art of the deal
Trump is notoriously fickle. China must be careful not to satisfy America's appetite for the rare earths too soon. Let them feel the pain over the transitional period. Only then will they be sufficiently motivated to end the nasty trade war once and for all. Under Trump, America is erratic. China would be well-advised to exercise extreme caution in navigating this ongoing process.
Trump often boasts that he is holding all the cards, leaving China with no card to play. The opposite is true. In geopolitical games, talk is cheap, leverage is everything.
Maotai time for China and its leaders
China is playing the Trump game with deadly effect. Against the big bad bully, it has checkmated its opponent. This country has come a long way since its dirt-poor days when it was at the mercy of predatory powers. Finally, it has grown the mind and the muscle for greatness. It is Maotai time for the nation and its leaders. Cheers, China!
The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.
Read more articles by Philip Yeung:
Opinion | India 'ignites an inferno'---China douses it
Opinion | America enters the Dark Age
Opinion | Is Carney a true un-Trudeau or is he a disaster for Canada?
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