The New Sides to the Meeting between the Defense Ministers
A Chinese delegation under Minister of Defense Chang Wanquan visited U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on Aug. 19 at the Pentagon to discuss security issues in the Asia-Pacific region, network security issues and to promote military relations as well as future projects that would require cooperation among other important issues in need of discussion. The meeting coincided with the positive development of Sino-U.S. military relations, the momentum of which made this meeting very favorable, but it also marks the first time the two ministers have met since taking office. The new defense minister has been meeting with the outside world to promote trust and cooperation between the Chinese and American armies.
In recent years, both the Chinese and U.S. military have remained heavily involved in international issues and have significant impact on these issues. From time to time, the two militaries have both been involved in the same issues, making it extremely important to improve the relations between the two in order to promote regional peace and stability as well as impact issues positively. In June, President Xi Jinping had a successful visit with President Obama. The fruitful talks between the two promoted bilateral relations, improved military relations between China and the United States and brought positive momentum to the relations. The time with the two ministers meeting means that strengthening military relations is something that both the United States and China wish to seek.
Admittedly, these relations have also been severely constrained. These instances include the United States being heavily involved in an Asia-Pacific rebalancing strategy, the United States’ readjustment of the Asia-Pacific Sea Battle, the U.S.-Japanese alliance over the Diaoyu Islands dispute, which includes the involvement of many neighboring countries in the South China Sea, disputes over network security and military transparency issues. These differences between the views of China and the United States make handling Sino-U.S. military relations more difficult.
However, we must also showcase the positive and healthy development of the relations between the two countries and its general trend, which has become increasingly evident and urgent.
With the transformation of the international situation, China and the United States have become the most important players on the world political stage. They both desperately need each other and have become interdependent partners in world politics. Not only do the countries need to work together to face the challenges of global and regional security, many domestic security and development issues in the United States need China’s help. If the United States antagonizes China, not only will global security be out of control, but the United States’ national security interests will also be at stake. In this regard, American strategists must keep their focus.
These two countries, especially the United States, must give up this “zero sum game” that is a traditional train of thought among strategists. There’s an old Chinese saying: “kill 1,000, injure 800.” In today’s globalized society, the security and development of American and Chinese interests have become closer together. China must respect the United States in terms of its interests in the Asia-Pacific region, but the United States must also respect China’s fundamental interests.
Moreover, the United States, as the world’s largest developed country, and China, as the world’s largest developing country, both shoulder major responsibility in global and regional security. Their relations, in addition to the focus of their long-term bilateral interests, must also focus on the overall situation of the world and promote peace and happiness so as to let all people work together.
Coincidentally, both defense ministers have witnessed war. Many prominent military figures had some role in the Vietnam War; Hagel was one of them. The two defense secretaries’ wealth of experience brings them profound insight. This should positively impact the exchange between the two and bring about inspiring news.
In recent years, both the Chinese and U.S. military have remained heavily involved in international issues and have significant impact on these issues. From time to time, the two militaries have both been involved in the same issues, making it extremely important to improve the relations between the two in order to promote regional peace and stability as well as impact issues positively. In June, President Xi Jinping had a successful visit with President Obama. The fruitful talks between the two promoted bilateral relations, improved military relations between China and the United States and brought positive momentum to the relations. The time with the two ministers meeting means that strengthening military relations is something that both the United States and China wish to seek.
Admittedly, these relations have also been severely constrained. These instances include the United States being heavily involved in an Asia-Pacific rebalancing strategy, the United States’ readjustment of the Asia-Pacific Sea Battle, the U.S.-Japanese alliance over the Diaoyu Islands dispute, which includes the involvement of many neighboring countries in the South China Sea, disputes over network security and military transparency issues. These differences between the views of China and the United States make handling Sino-U.S. military relations more difficult.
However, we must also showcase the positive and healthy development of the relations between the two countries and its general trend, which has become increasingly evident and urgent.
With the transformation of the international situation, China and the United States have become the most important players on the world political stage. They both desperately need each other and have become interdependent partners in world politics. Not only do the countries need to work together to face the challenges of global and regional security, many domestic security and development issues in the United States need China’s help. If the United States antagonizes China, not only will global security be out of control, but the United States’ national security interests will also be at stake. In this regard, American strategists must keep their focus.
These two countries, especially the United States, must give up this “zero sum game” that is a traditional train of thought among strategists. There’s an old Chinese saying: “kill 1,000, injure 800.” In today’s globalized society, the security and development of American and Chinese interests have become closer together. China must respect the United States in terms of its interests in the Asia-Pacific region, but the United States must also respect China’s fundamental interests.
Moreover, the United States, as the world’s largest developed country, and China, as the world’s largest developing country, both shoulder major responsibility in global and regional security. Their relations, in addition to the focus of their long-term bilateral interests, must also focus on the overall situation of the world and promote peace and happiness so as to let all people work together.
Coincidentally, both defense ministers have witnessed war. Many prominent military figures had some role in the Vietnam War; Hagel was one of them. The two defense secretaries’ wealth of experience brings them profound insight. This should positively impact the exchange between the two and bring about inspiring news.
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