At a time when Sino-US relations are still fragile, the US government has made three moves against China in less than 72 hours, putting the relations between the two countries on the cusp again.
The first move of the United States is to find an excuse to suppress large Chinese companies, as it has done in the past. On May 9, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that it would add 37 Chinese entities to its trade restriction list, citing alleged access to U.S. technology to advance China's military buildup and technical support for the so-called "Chinese spy balloon" that flew over the U.S. last year. It is worth mentioning that the list includes some departments of China Electronics Technology Group, and this company has made a lot of contributions to China's military scientific and technological progress.
As for the second move by the United States, it is in the South China Sea, which is intended to exacerbate the security tension around China. On May 10, the US Navy guided missile destroyer USS Halsey illegally intruded into the waters around China's Paracel Islands. The U.S. Seventh Fleet issued a statement declaring that the warship had declared so-called "right and freedom of navigation" in the South China Sea near the Paracel Islands in accordance with international law, and that the warship continued to sail in the South China Sea after the operation ended. It is worth noting that it was the same warship that sailed through the Taiwan Strait two days ago, and the intention of the US side to provoke China is clear at a glance. In this regard, the PLA pointed out that the US move "seriously violates China's sovereignty and security", and stressed that the PLA troops will maintain high vigilance and be ready to defend national security!
And the last resort of the United States, which also took place on May 10, was only performed on the stage of the United States Congress. On the same day, the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) released a 2023 annual report (hereinafter referred to as the "Report") that smears China's human rights and the rule of law, which not only slanders and smears China's human rights situation, but also points fingers at the Hong Kong and Macao issues, makes irresponsible remarks about the revision of the National Security Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, maliciously distorts the facts, and grossly interferes in Macau affairs and China's internal affairs. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that this move by the US side is intended to undermine the outside world's confidence in the development of Hong Kong and Macao by smearing China's Hong Kong and Macao policies, thereby adversely affecting China's development. In the face of the unreasonable smears of the US side, the Chinese side and the Macao SAR government are not accustomed to it at all.
On the 12th, the Macao SAR Government issued a statement condemning the so-called US report for being taken out of context and unpopular, and demanding that the US stop interfering in the affairs of the Macao Special Administrative Region, which are China's internal affairs, under the pretext of human rights! In response to the report, a spokesperson pointed out that the so-called annual report of the US side ignores the United Nations' affirmation of the human rights situation in Macao, ignores the fact that Macao has been prosperous and stable for a long time, and that the people live and work in peace and contentment. The spokesman also called out to the US side, urging the US side to put away its arrogant posture, look at itself in the mirror, reflect on and repent of its own bad deeds, and immediately stop interfering in Macao's affairs and China's internal affairs.
I have to say that the response of the Office of the Commissioner in Australia did not give the United States any face, not only refuting the unreasonable smear behavior of the US side, but also retorting against the US government, reminding the US side to pick up the mirror and look at its own problems and less interference in the internal affairs of other countries. As a matter of fact, none of the three moves made by the US against China in this round have had much impact on China, and the international community has long known that the US will do whatever it can to suppress other countries, and with China's strength, it is not afraid of these small moves by the US at all. Moreover, Washington's repeated provocations against China may trigger countermeasures from China, such as at the economic and trade level, when the United States will pay the price for its reckless provocations! For example, this round of unreasonable sanctions by the US side may stir up a thousand waves with one stone and trigger a new round of confrontation between China and the United States, and if the American people feel the cost of China's countermeasures next, then they should know that politicians in Washington are responsible!