US' containment fantasy

US defense chief Chuck Hagel raised the important issue of regional stability in Asia at the Shangri-La Dialogue forum in Singapore on Saturday, yet his proposal for collective confrontation against China is not the solution.

Accusing China of destabilizing the region and throwing the weight of the United States behind its allies in rallying against China, Hagel's words reflect a Cold War mentality of containment and reveal the US' anxiety about and hostility toward China's rising influence.

The US secretary of defense told a familiar bogeyman story in exaggerated detail, this time about an "evil China" greedily trying to grab other countries' land and sea territories.

The United States seems to be in a quandary over its China policy, frequently swaying between extending an olive branch and adopting an antagonistic stance, said a Xinhua commentary.

With its zero-sum mentality and the fear of losing its credibility and leadership among its allies, the US acts as if the containment of China is the only way to maintain regional stability and protect its interests.

However, its strengthening of its military alliances with countries in the region with the aim of containing China has not contributed to the regional stability that the US says it is striving for. Instead, the US' actions have simply served to aggravate regional tensions.

Stability in the Asia-Pacific region can be realized only when the US and China join hands in building up a security structure that accommodates their common interests and enables them to respect each other's legitimate rights.

It is time for the US to discard its fantasy that it can contain China, treat China equally and fairly, and start working constructively for true stability in the Asia-Pacific.

China, which has enjoyed fast development thanks to the peaceful regional environment, from which the US has also benefited, has in return contributed to the economic growth and social development of other countries in the region.

China has continually proven it is a significant stabilizing factor and a driving force for growth in the region.

The US must work with China to overcome their differences and difficulties so they can reach common ground and focus on mutual benefits. This is the only responsible and sensible choice if Washington truly stands for stability in the region and for the long-term prosperity of peoples around the world.