Rising to the security challenges

Of all the bilateral relations in the Asia-Pacific region, that between the US and China must be the most important and influential. The emerging concept of "a new type of major-power relationship", which features mutual strategic trust, is thus essential in maintaining peace and stability in the region.

But how can strategic trust be promoted between the two countries? A key element for this is the strategic insight of decision-makers and elites on both sides. There might be disputes and different definitions of interests, but as long as the two sides realize that theirs is not a zero-sum-game, bilateral disputes will not turn into open conflicts.

For that to happen, however, the two countries have to have respect for each other. Respect for each other means respecting each other's mode of development and core interests so as to have stable expectations from each other's actions. The recent remarks of certain US officials on China's territorial disputes, like the Diaoyu Islands dispute, are devoid of such respect. Hence, the US should take steps to prevent its officials from making such comments in the future.

Strategic reassurance, or a series of institutionalized, in-depth dialogues, and explanations on policies and strategies that openly call for each other's trust, are other requirements that the two sides have to fulfill. Besides taking steps to make each other confident, which would show the world that China is committed to peaceful development and the US welcomes China's rise, the two sides should also make efforts to build a more fair and balanced world, instead of forming a "G2".

More importantly, the two countries need to cultivate self-restraint. Both in the East and the West, self-restraint is used to strike a balance and pursue coordination at a higher level. The concept is now adopted in international relations for the common good. One such example is China's promise to never seek hegemony. This culture needs to be promoted through joint Sino-US efforts, for instance, to resolve disputes through dialogues, not confrontations.

That will in turn help establish friendship through virtuous interactions. As two core nations in any international circle, China and the US are responsible for maintaining and promoting strategic mutual trust for the security and benefit of all.

Chen Dongxiao, vice-director of Shanghai Institute for International Studies.