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Beijing, Washington continue to assess each other’s strategies

(Global Times)    07:56, December 25, 2015
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  Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

The most eye-catching term to define China-US relations in 2015 is perhaps the phrase "tipping point," used by one of the most respected American China hands, David Lampton. Tensions between a rising power and an established one, namely China and the US, can clearly be sensed in the real world and among strategists, whether they hold a positive or negative point of view toward the future trajectory of bilateral relations.

Ups and downs have continued to feature in Sino-US ties as in previous years, but there has undeniably been a downward trend in the relationship, especially given the spat over cyber security and the South China Sea. However, it may be too early to say that relations are reaching a "tipping point," as a number of uncertainties remain.

Both sides are still assessing each other's strategic intentions. Many in Washington believe Beijing's rise is a challenge to US hegemony in the world. As such, the South China Sea is seen as a litmus test. They argue that China will repeat what it has done in the South China Sea in other parts of the world, so the US should take a tougher approach in dealing with a more "assertive" China.

In the meantime, in the eyes of many in China, it is the US that cannot tolerate a peacefully rising China and that keeps sending warships and planes to waters near China's newly built islands in the South China Sea, even though China insists it has not violated any international law and that it wishes to put the islands to peaceful use.

China has been advancing the concept of a "new type of major power relations" between Beijing and Washington. It stresses avoidance of confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. However, the US has not fully embraced the concept because of its concerns over the way China defines the meaning of "respect." The US argues that it does not have any problem respecting China's sovereignty and way of life, but that it does have a problem with respecting the way China handles its territorial claims in the South China Sea. However, the South China Sea is by no means the entirety of Sino-US relations and the development of the situation is nowhere near reaching a point of no return, despite what some observers have said.

China and the US have more common interests than conflicts. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII. It is an obligation for both China and the US to ensure a postwar order that caters not only to their individual interests but those of the whole world. They also share common interests in many areas, including non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and curbing climate change.

With a new year on the horizon, the Sino-US relationship will continue to see ups and downs, and one key matter could be the proposed US arms sales to Taiwan. The US recently authorized a new and long-awaited arms package for Taiwan. The move was hailed in the US media as a sign of Washington's willingness to provide democratic Taiwan with the weapons it needs to defend itself and also of Washington's readiness to face Chinese objections.

Yet it's worth noting that the quality and quantity of the proposed arms package is far more modest than previous such deals. It did not include the systems that Taiwan wanted most - F-16C/D fighters and technical help with its indigenous diesel-electric submarine program. The timing was also carefully chosen by the US to take Beijing's concerns into consideration. It was announced after Chinese President Xi Jinping's US visit in late September and after the Paris climate change talks, so as to reduce the negative impact on China-US cooperation at these events.

It also happened prior to "presidential" and "legislative" elections in Taiwan in which the "pro-independence" opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is likely to win, so that it does not generate the impression that the US is endorsing the new DPP administration in Taiwan.

2016 is an election year for the US, and past experience indicates that this could affect relations, because China is often a target during election campaigns. It will test the wisdom of leaders of both countries, especially of US President Barack Obama who wishes to leave a satisfactory legacy in promoting US-China relations. It is the hope of the people of both countries that Sino-US relations can stay on the right track.

(For the latest China news, Please follow People's Daily on Twitter and Facebook)(Editor:Liang Jun,Bianji)

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