by Xinhua writers Yang Zhou, Guo Xinhui
BANGKOK, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Developed countries should not introduce trade barriers against globalization, which may backfire in the future, according to one expert.
If developed countries introduce trade barriers, more nations will follow suit in the future and the barriers may hinder the introduction of new knowledge to their own countries, Gen. Surasit Thanadtang, director of the Thai-Chinese Strategic Research Center under the National Research Council of Thailand, said in a recent interview with Xinhua.
"I don't think it will be beneficial to them," he said.
Surasit noted that the United States now wants to return to protectionism and unilateralism since it deems globalization non-profitable for the country.
"I think it comes from fear," Surasit said. "They fear losing their dominant position, they fear losing some profits, they fear lagging behind ..." he said.
Surasit said the ongoing trade frictions between China and the United States would impact Americans and the whole world, slowing down investment in some countries.
"Washington is just trying to provoke something to gain votes in the next general election," he said.
Surasit said in the short term, the U.S. tariffs will affect some companies and manufacturers. However, in the long run, the Chinese economy is like an ocean, while the U.S. tariffs are like a storm; the storm cannot greatly impact the ocean, though it can create some waves.
Talking about recent U.S. moves against China's telecom company Huawei, he described it as "unreasonable."
"Huawei's 5G proved that now Eastern countries can develop the best core technology," he said.
"I don't think banning Huawei is reasonable," Surasit said. "Of course when we talk about globalization, it depends on how we cooperate, or how wisely we compete rather than power competing."
Economic globalization should bring win-win results instead of being a zero-sum game, he said, adding that competition is inevitable, but competition does not mean eliminating the other side.
