Policy decisions not because of US threat

Most media, everywhere in the world, cater to their domestic audiences by stoking the fires of nationalism. This is no extraordinary insight: human beings, rooted in common evolutionary history, are territorial and tribal animals; we take pride in our home countries, just as we do in our home sports teams (the word "fan" is short for "fanatic"). Patriotism, taking pride in one's country, is laudatory and energizing, but if excessive, misdirected or blinding, it backfires and becomes counterproductive.

In covering the claims and counterclaims, moves and countermoves of the United States and China in what some label "a looming trade war", some media outlets like to frame the question in terms of a tough-guy metaphor - "who blinks first?" - as if international economics is children's game of staring each other down.

But "who blinks first?" is a myopic viewpoint, mischaracterizing as a weakness that may be a strength - a sophisticated, nuanced pathway that can lead to a mutually beneficial, win-win solution. Win-win does not mean compromise, though it often involves compromise, or at least appreciating the other side's way of thinking. Winwin means optimization, non-zero-sum, where the gain to your side does not require a compensating loss by the other side.