In name only: I will break the chess game in Handong

Our main mission in coming to the United States this time is to promote the normalization of trade.

Instead of continuing to let the United States wield the tariff weapon, we must not let the United States become aware of it.

"Comrade Chen Luo, this is your first meeting with foreign guests. Director Yang and I were initially worried that you might feel awkward and still try to treat them with courtesy."

Chen Luo smiled and said, "Minister Yi, you can put that worry away. None of the cadres who come from Handong are naive or innocent."

Upon hearing this, all three of them laughed.

"Speaking of Handong, I almost forgot, Comrade Chen Luo is the renowned King of Handong. Bargaining is a piece of cake for him, isn't it?"

"Not only that, but when Chen Luo responded to Blinken just now, his teasy demeanor was something I'd never seen before. He was both salty and sweet, and I learned a lot from him."

After a few jokes, we got down to business.

"Director Yang, Minister Yi, has the date for the next meeting been set?"

Director Yang nodded.

"The second round of talks will begin in five hours."

"The meeting just now should have made our stance clear to the United States. What follows will be a serious clash of conditions; neither side wants to concede, yet both sides want to de-escalate the situation. The most difficult part will be negotiating the terms."

At this point, Minister Yi added: "No matter how domineering the United States may be later, the bottom line cannot change."

If the United States doesn't remove its tariff weapon, our equivalent tariffs won't be reduced.

Director Yang, what you just said is absolutely right.

Seventy years ago, the United States was not qualified to say that it was speaking to us from the perspective of strength.

This is especially true now; fairness and mutual benefit are the only way to solve the problem.

Chen Luo listened attentively; it was all based on experience.

"That's true, Director Yang, Minister Yi, given the way the United States behaves, there's probably a lot to discuss next!"

“If once doesn’t work, we’ll try twice; if twice doesn’t work, we’ll try three times. We don’t want to drag this out, and they don’t want to either.”

"No matter how difficult it is, we must talk. The two sides fighting like the snipe and the clam allows the fisherman to profit; neither side can continue like this."

After several hours of deliberation, it was soon time for the second meeting, at the same hotel.

Even after getting off the bus, reporters still surrounded the area.

This time, the smiles were gone from everyone's faces; it was time to get serious!

A few minutes later, at the conference table, they met again, and Blinken had returned to his normal expression.

"Mr. Yang, Mr. Yi, Mr. Chen, I wonder what your decision is. We Americans have come here with sincerity. My assistant even prepared a glass of milk for me to celebrate, because drinking can lead to trouble, and it wouldn't be good to have Mr. Chen keep finding fault with me."

Director Yang raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "Mr. Blinken, you are sincere, and we are not lacking either. I have a suggestion for you to hear first."

"Mr. Yang, please speak!"

“You’re suffering, and we’re suffering too. How about we just revert the policy back to what it was two years ago, when everyone was living in peace?”

Blinken rolled his eyes.

"Mr. Yang, your sincerity is unacceptable. The purpose of raising tariffs is to cope with the ever-widening trade deficit. Going back to what it was two years ago would mean that you are continuing to bleed us dry."

“Mr. Blinken, tariffs signify the integrity of national sovereignty, and reciprocal tariffs are a sacred symbol of sovereignty!”

If you expect us to compromise on this issue, that's wishful thinking, and there's no need to continue negotiations.

Faced with Director Yang's flat refusal, Blinken's face turned green; there was truly no possibility of negotiation.

"Mr. Yang, Mr. Yi, Mr. Chen, let's set aside tariffs and talk about the international security situation first."

China's continuous increase in military spending has, in effect, posed a threat to the South China Sea region and caused panic among our allies.

When it came to Chen Luo's turn, he first shook his head, then retorted: "Mr. Sullivan, safeguarding national security and sovereignty is the sacred mission of soldiers!"

"Mr. Chen, but your country has not faced any security threats or challenges; you are a nuclear-armed state!"

“Mr. Sullivan, history has lessons to teach us. A hundred years ago we suffered invasion, which, in your Western terms, is called a lack of security. What we are doing now is simply improving our own sense of security.”

As for those countries that feel threatened, their claims are blatant slander and lies.

Our consistent stance as China is peaceful coexistence; it's their guilty conscience that makes them afraid of trouble.

Chapter 513: Meeting Ends, Return Home

Chen Luo will not back down on this issue.

He wasn't a passive person; rather than letting the other party keep making demands, he preferred to take the initiative.

Mr. Sullivan!

When it comes to international security, I have to mention one thing.

"Regarding the important principles mentioned in the joint communiqué and the communiqué establishing diplomatic relations, is your United States still willing to uphold them?"

Upon hearing this, Sullivan frowned.

Regardless of whether he answered yes or no, he knew he would never get the better of him, so he simply tried to smooth things over.

"Mr. Chen, the joint communiqué is decades old now, and time will fade the traces."

The circumstances then are completely different from the problems now, and generalizations cannot be made.

"Mr. Sullivan might as well put it more clearly."

"Mr. Chen!"

"Mr. Sullivan's voice suddenly rose, was it because the chair was too hot or because he wanted to change the subject?"

"Okay, okay, we'll keep our word!"

We, the United States of America, are willing to abide by the contents of the Joint Communiqué. Mr. Chen, please state your opinion directly.

"The communiqué repeatedly emphasizes respect for both sides' exercise of their respective sovereignty, which is something that the United States acknowledges."

However, in recent years, the United States seems to have not strictly adhered to the contents of the communiqué; your aircraft frequently pass over our outer seas.

"Mr. Chen, please don't jump to conclusions. We Americans have always respected you."

As for the fighter jets flying, we were simply conserving fuel by taking a straight route; there was no intention of provocation whatsoever.

"Mr. Sullivan, do you believe that?"

At this point, the atmosphere was already quite tense.

"Mr. Chen, saving energy can help address global warming."

Is it wrong to slow down warming by saving even a little fuel?

Chen Luo rolled his eyes. What a Tai Chi master.

Everyone left room for maneuver in their words.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. Everyone here is an elite among elites; they wouldn't be foolish enough to reveal their weaknesses.

"In that case, Mr. Sullivan, there is no need to discuss the so-called international security issues any further."

The best way to save fuel is to sell your planes to us for scrap metal prices. That would solve the problem once and for all, directly addressing its root cause.

If we cannot even guarantee the integrity of our own territory. If we cannot even defend our own dignity.

Increasing military spending and developing the military remains a long and arduous task!

As for those countries that feel threatened, we believe they are overthinking it.

If one day our missiles land right above their heads, then I think it will be necessary to talk about threats!

Sullivan was so angry he laughed. A missile was right overhead—that wasn't just a threat, it was a matter of life and death!

“Mr. Chen, since that’s the case, then we have nothing to talk about.”

With that topic concluded, the talks moved on to consultations in the area of ​​trade and economics.

But neither side was willing to make a concession.

The talks have reached another deadlock.

The second meeting ended two hours later.

Stepping out of the hotel, not a single person, whether Chinese or American, wore a smile.

Everyone was solemn and got into the car without giving any interviews.

Back at the hotel, we ate something and then rested.

The third meeting was scheduled for the next morning. By now, everyone was clear about each other's bottom line and no one would harbor any unrealistic fantasies.

The night passed quickly.

Chen Luo slept very comfortably, since he wasn't responsible for the main negotiations; he was just there to broaden his horizons.

After getting into the car and arriving at the negotiation location, we were still surrounded by reporters, and it was still the same negotiation table.

This time, however, there was no tense atmosphere between the two sides; instead, there was a strange sense of relaxation.

"Mr. Yang, how did you sleep last night?"

Blinken asked with a smile, as if he were an old friend.

"It's alright. The temperature in Alaska is a bit low, but my heart is warm."

No matter how scorching the ice or how freezing the heat, it can melt it!

"Mr. Yang, I won't waste any more words. The greatest sincerity we can offer is to temporarily suspend high tariffs on 140 kinds of products, including rare earths, from your company."

Director Yang smiled and said, "What a coincidence, Mr. Blinken. We are also willing to temporarily suspend high tariffs on 128 products, including American soybeans."

After that, the two sides exchanged lists of specific product categories.

After watching for about twenty minutes, Blinken frowned again, and Director Yang also frowned deeply.

“Mr. Blinken, your list seems to be missing some products, such as chips…”

"Mr. Yang, rare earth elements are not on your list!"

"Sorry, rare earth elements are controlled resources and cannot be sold to the public. You can ask for the rest."

After three hours of back-and-forth discussion on the list, a consensus was finally reached.