US using trade to check China's rise

China introduced the Made in China 2025 plan on May 19, 2015, to keep pace with the new industrial revolution, and for upgrading and transforming its manufacturing industry. Since the global financial crisis, many countries have adopted a re-industrialization strategy, such as the US' National Strategic Plan for Advanced Manufacturing and Germany's Industrie 4.0, to meet the challenge of the new industrial revolution.

As a big industrial power with the world's largest manufacturer, China too should make efforts for upgrading its manufacturing industry. Made in China 2025's aim is to do exactly that, by promoting innovation in manufacturing and improving the industry's quality and efficiency. The plan's focus is on intelligent manufacturing, similar to the US and German strategies, and its 10 key areas of focus are also similar to those of the US' advanced manufacturing plan, and both aim to provide the direction for industrial development.

Since the United States has no reason to launch a trade war using such a plan as a pretext, its actions prove it wants to maintain its hegemony to deprive China's development rights.