US expert: Blinken's 'de-risking' is unilateral 'decoupling'

File photo of Einar Tangen (Photo courtesy of Taihe Institute)

Einar Tangen, a U.S. current affairs commentator and senior fellow at the Taihe Institute, rebutted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's comments on the "de-risking" policy towards China. In a recent interview with People's Daily Online, the U.S. expert validated the vision and accomplishments of the Belt and Road Initiative, and advocated for enhanced China-U.S. relations through exchanges among their peoples.

BRI allows countries to create their own future

Tangen underscored the BRI's significant impact on global connectivity and economic growth. He lauded the initiative's effective role in promoting regional cooperation and boosting connectivity across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

He also criticized U.S. interference in the World Trade Organization (WTO). "The U.S. has prevented the World Trade Organization from operating by refusing to allow judges to be appointed, and therefore there can be no final decision." He described it as the U.S. pulling back on free and fair trade. "So as the U.S. pulled back, as the threat of containment increased, the Belt and Road Initiative was a welcome relief valve," he stated. "It will allow countries to actually create their own future, not be reliant on other economies, but to build economies of their own, and to be able to use their economies to compete in the world and do a better job for their people."

In discussing the BRI's future development on its 10th anniversary, Tangen stressed the importance of mutual trust. "If I don't trust you as a person, we cannot have a relationship. If I can't trust you as a business, we cannot have a business relationship. And if I can't trust you as a country, we cannot have diplomacy between us," Tangen said. "So, it's fitting that as this has been developed, it's become much more about people-to-people exchanges, understanding each other, and trusting each other," he said.

"De-risking" equates to unilateral "decoupling"

Tangen emphasized that U.S. geopolitical hegemony presents the primary challenge to the world. He rejected the notion that a single path in life exists for all countries and peoples, viewing this idea as the most significant hindrance. "It's incorrect, but convincing the U.S. to acknowledge that will take time," he said.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently committed to "de-risking" instead of "decoupling" from China. Tangen noted that "de-risking" is merely a more subtle term for "decoupling," and "de-risking" equates to unilateral "decoupling."

According to Tangen, "De-risking" was a compromise Blinken made with the Europeans because they disliked the word decoupling. "'De-risking' means that I'm going to separate from you, but I don't expect you to separate from me … Blinken only agreed to this change in words simply because the Europeans weren't quite comfortable with the idea of decoupling because they knew very well they couldn't decouple from China and still maintain robust exports. So, they said, can't we have another word? But the word does not have any kind of different meaning."

People-to-people exchanges to strengthen China-US relations

In light of the current complexities in China-U.S. relations, Tangen emphasized the crucial role of people-to-people exchanges in strengthening the relationship between the two nations. He recognized that cultural exchanges have been instrumental in promoting mutual understanding and building bridges between countries.

"Real change in Europe and America will not come from the top. That is clear; it must come from the bottom. And by that, I mean from the people", Tangen stated. He suggested that the U.S. and China should have people-to-people communication, have more flights going back and forth, and host more student homestays for young people to understand the culture that they are in. "There has to be a deepening of cultural exchange. It can't simply be a little visit", he said.

Tangen also highlighted the Global Civilization Initiative. "What it is really talking about is respect for other cultures, for the fact that they have the right as sovereign nations to create their own path as they go forward, not be dictated to by any one country or group of countries."

"If you're going to respect something, you have to understand it," he said, adding that there is an increasing number of international educational programs bringing people to China and encouraging more Chinese students to study abroad so that mutual understanding between countries and their peoples can be further enhanced.