Awaiting Hillary Clinton's Visit: Concerns Over Development of Sino-US Trust

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will visit China on Sept. 4. Everyone expects that her visit will increase strategic trust between China and the U.S., eliminate people’s concern that the U.S. is returning to the Asia-Pacific with the aim of holding China back and accomplish some real work.

This year the U.S. has significantly increased the frequency of its military deployments to the Asia-Pacific, announcing that it will not only put 60 percent of its naval forces there in the next 10 years, but that it will also deploy troops to Australia to increase the frequency of military exercises with Asia-Pacific countries. In addition the U.S. will provide military aid, utilize military bases and deploy advanced battleships, among other things, to step up negotiations and cooperation with the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan and other countries.

In reality before the U.S. decided to “return,” the security of the Asia-Pacific was generally stable, and it was only after the high-profile announcement of this “return” that the regional situation became agitated and concerns deepened.

First concern: Will the U.S. interfere directly or indirectly with regional disputes through its military presence in the Asia-Pacific, and will it really benefit the region with regard to security, stability and prosperity?

Second concern: As the U.S. attempts to get involved in bilateral disputes between Asia-Pacific countries, will they truly play the role of a fair mediator?

Third concern: Does the U.S. have pure intentions in trying to increase Sino-American military cooperation and trust?

In reality the U.S.’ “Bureau of Interference” is one of the main reasons for recent tensions in the South and East China Seas. Take Scarborough Shoal, for example. The U.S. declares that it is “not choosing sides” while simultaneously increasing military cooperation with the Philippines. The U.S. turns a blind eye to Philippine provocation toward China while making unwarranted accusations against China for its lawful establishment of the city of Sansha in its own territory. Further, with regard to the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands, the U.S. says that it is “not taking sides,” but at the same time it claims that the security treaty between the U.S. and Japan applies to the Senkaku Islands, and at the end of August it engaged in “island protection” military exercises with Japan.

While attending the 24th annual Pacific Islands Forum, Hillary Clinton said that the Pacific Ocean is “big enough” to accommodate all of the countries in the region, including the U.S. and China. People hope that the actions of the U.S. will fully realize this accommodation, that the U.S. will truly respect China’s core interests and that it will play the part of a “promoter of peace” in the Asia-Pacific.

Building a new relationship between the two major powers is a common cause of both China and the U.S. In order to take on an attitude of responsibility, we must both advance Sino-American mutual trust and cooperation and, fundamentally speaking, we must also manage the interests of the U.S. We await Hillary Clinton’s visit and her execution of the promised steps to promote Sino-American relations and advance Asia-Pacific security.