US and China Should Unite To Stabilize Region

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has visited China in the most important high-level meeting between the two countries since their respective leaders took office. As major world powers, the U.S. and China must exchange views on both bilateral and international issues, as well as seek broader cooperation to develop their relationship and stabilize the region and the world.

For some time, Northeast Asia has suffered from a series of destabilizing events, and the world is watching to see what kind of collaborative action the U.S. and China will take in response. The long-mounting tension between the U.S. and North Korea may be about to come to a head. If the worst comes to pass, it will benefit neither the U.S. nor the North, and it will cause tremendous harm to others in the region, including South Korea. It would also be a great impediment to China’s development at this crucial stage of modernization.

Accordingly, China is firmly opposed to destabilization in the region, causing trouble on China’s doorstep and any behavior that challenges regional peace and stability for individual gain. If there is armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula or in Northeast Asia, there will be no winners. To this end, as major world powers and parties invested in the stability of the Korean Peninsula, the U.S. and China should have a common understanding. Regardless of whether it arises from national interests or wishes for the common good of the region, the U.S. and China both must strengthen dialogue, form a strategic consensus, coordinate policy and ask others in the region to respond in collectively adopting positive measures to lower risk and allow cooler heads to prevail.

As a senior political leader of the U.S., Kerry is familiar with international affairs and knows this well. He has long held an optimistic view of China’s development, and, since his appointment as secretary of state, he has also indicated that adjustments in U.S. policy toward East Asia are not aimed against China. Hearing these words and in light of his behavior, China is willing to recognize that the U.S. is welcoming our peaceful development with concrete action. In that case, the U.S. and China reaching a high level of consensus on the Korean Peninsula, working together to turn risk into opportunity and uniting to adopt all collaborative measures that may aid in defusing the situation present significant opportunities for the two nations to build mutual trust and a new, mutually beneficial power relationship.

History has shown that in regional and international conflicts, challenges and rising to meet those challenges go hand in hand — and often in reverse. That is to say, with regard to the current confrontation, not only are the involved parties outspoken in their mutual displeasure, but the standoff will very likely spiral out of control. Consequently, China has appealed for both the U.S. and the North to exercise restraint and tend to their own actions first. We request that neither side threaten the use of a military solution and that both sides refrain from using shows of force in response.

The conflict between the U.S. and the North will de-escalate once more, even if this takes some time. The best means to resolve this longstanding enmity is through dialogue. The North’s opposition to threatening military exercises staged by the U.S. and South Korea is not difficult to understand, but its repeated turn to highly bellicose behavior is worthy of censure. China wishes to remain neutral regarding right and wrong in the matter, not favoring either side. Furthermore, China supports the North’s desire to develop better relations with the U.S. and hopes that the U.S. will not squander this opportunity; however, we oppose the use of extremist methods in this strategic jousting. The people of Northeast Asia have a right to live in a peaceful and tranquil environment, and regional security should not be treated as a game by anyone.

On Kerry’s visit, he and Chinese leaders were able to exchange opinions on a variety of topics. The U.S. and China must respect each other on the Iranian nuclear issue, which both nations view as a matter of extreme gravity, as well as Middle Eastern stability, Internet and maritime security and other areas. Each must not only present its own views, but also show understanding, reconcile differences and be adept at minimizing conflict. Regardless of whether it is a problem that can be addressed immediately or one that must be resolved gradually, the U.S. and China must do so with dialogue first, the spirit of cooperation and by sending a message to others that they will continue to strive toward building a cooperative partnership and set a foundation for positive bilateral relations into the future. A stable relationship between the U.S. and China is beneficial to the prosperity and tranquility of the Pacific, and it is the duty of both to join hands and unite forces.

The author is the vice dean of the Institute of International Affairs at Fudan University.