Words have the power to lift haze

China's energy policy is high on John J. Hamre's agenda. That's not surprising because the former US deputy defense secretary's present business is to review global energy forecasts.

These reviews will "assess the geopolitical dimensions of global supply of and demand for energy", said Hamre, now head of US think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies. His present job has taken him to Chinese government officials, with whom he has been discussing energy issues. In fact, he gave a presentation at the 2007 China Development Forum on Monday, surveying the global energy scenario over the next 25 years and the risks and opportunities in it for China.

But Hamre continues to follow defense issues, too. He told China Daily that the heightened media interest in the country's military budget was raised at some meetings he had had with senior government officials. He expects more such discussions before he flies back home.

Though he refused to talk about the specifics of these meetings, he said open communication could help clear the cloud of doubt between China and the US. "China and the US both have a right to undertake preparations that they believe are important for national security. Any of us could take an action, however, which could be misunderstood or misinterpreted by the other and that could make the situation worse.

"The developments of the past month or so indicate that we needs a heightened dialogue between our respective military establishments. More dialogues on our thoughts and programs would go a long way in answering important questions we have about each other. This is a time when greater interchange and dialogue would benefit both countries."

"Peace and development remain the general trend of the times and no major war is likely to break out," Premier Wen Jiabao said in a widely discussed commentary published in People's Daily last month.

Hamre also shared his idea about the existing international scenario, which is somewhat different from the Chinese mainstream view. Though Chinese officials and experts recognize the US as the sole superpower, in general they believe the global power structure is undergoing a change.

Hamre, too, sees a world with the US as the sole superpower but with strong regional "superpowers", such as the European Union, Brazil in South America, India in South Asia, and China and Japan in East Asia.

"We (the US) do not dominate in the regions where we are up against the regional powers." This configuration is "inherently quite stable" because "no one benefits by resorting to force", he said.

But Hamre is worried about East Asia because of its "structural problem" of having two "potential competitors". He said: "Historically that has been a formula for tension".

Some Chinese experts disagree with Hamre's analysis. "We Chinese don't like the word 'superpower'," China Foreign Affairs University President Wu Jianmin said. Wu does share some of Hamre's concerns over the region, though. He, however, thinks people in East Asia mainly aspire for peace and prosperity, and this desire can serve as a powerful force for community building.

The US and China both must be "responsible stakeholders" in the future world, Hamre said. "Hopefully, we will develop even stronger patterns of collaboration on the problems we share such as international health issues, pollution, crime, trafficking, drugs all of the problems affecting your society and our society. And we hope to find ways to work on them together in more effective ways."

"We really do want you to play a role with us and other major countries to set up an international system to solve the problems through diplomacy and tackle the international threats in a constructive way."

To illustrate how a country could contribute further as a responsible stakeholder, Hamre discussed China's role in the United Nations. During earlier UN Security Council meetings, he said, Beijing would make a decision on the basis of whether they were good or bad for China. "But the next question is what is good for the international system. That is where China didn't take the next step," Hamre said. "I think taking that next step is important."

Hamre acknowledged that China and the US have some fundamental differences in perspective. China "doesn't see the world the same way we do. So it's a challenge for both of us to have an open dialogue on the questions where we see a problem. China, however, may not see the problem the same way we do, and find some ways to resolve them together."

Hamre lauded China's efforts to resolve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, which he described as a fine illustration of Beijing playing a responsible role in world affairs.

The former deputy defense secretary's center cooperates on various projects with Chinese institutions, and through these links "we gain critical insight and perspective", he said.

"It is important to talk with Chinese leaders if we are to understand their perception of the problems and the reasons for the policy direction they are pursuing. We have found our counterparts to be open, constructive and very capable," he said.

And so can the countries that view China with suspicion.

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