核对抗中的智慧博弈：从珍宝岛到今天的启示

In international affairs, there are no eternal friends—only eternal interests.

In 1969, the Zhenbao Island conflict broke out. The Soviet Union considered the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) a potential threat that must be eliminated to secure its position against the United States.

To avoid arousing suspicion from the U.S., the Soviets even took the initiative to inform them: they were about to destroy an American enemy—China—and requested that the U.S. not misinterpret their upcoming nuclear strike.

Upon hearing this, the Americans were overjoyed. They quickly informed Mao Zedong, hoping to see the two communist powers tear each other apart.

Facing this complex crisis, Mao came up with a creative and bold strategy: if the Soviets dared to launch a nuclear attack on China, China would retaliate by launching nuclear missiles at U.S. military bases—and then relocate the entire Chinese population into the Soviet Union.

This stunned the Americans. They immediately warned the Soviets not to attack China, declaring that if they launched nuclear weapons against China, the U.S. would not sit idly by. Thus, the crisis was defused.

Today, Xi Jinping needs the same kind of wisdom Mao once displayed.

If the U.S. imposes more tariffs on China, then China should halt all exports, paralyzing the global supply chain and forcing the world's only major buyer to compromise. The cost? The Chinese people would need to tighten their belts and endure several difficult years—but that is precisely what the Chinese are best at.