Sino-US military ties
Updated: 2012-08-23 08:09
(China Daily)
|
|||||||||
As China and the United States vow to forge closer ties between their militaries, frequent high-level visits between the two militaries are becoming essential in deepening their mutual trust and avoiding strategic misjudgments.
The visit to the US this week by Cai Yingting, deputy chief of the general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, marks a step forward in keeping this desirable momentum going.
It's good to see both countries working in concert to promote military exchanges and maintain normal military relations. Cai's trip comes after Liang Guanglie, chief of the general staff of the PLA, paid a weeklong visit to the US in May. Liang's tour, the first by a Chinese defense chief in nine years, was widely perceived as being a landmark event of its kind in relations between China and the US.
As a result of the US' arms sales to Taiwan, which is an inalienable part of China, Sino-US military relations have by and large remained dormant in the past decade. A series of official high-level visits since 2010 has given impetus to the resumption of military exchanges.
China and the US have everything to gain from their two militaries deepening their understanding of each other and building more strategic mutual trust. To this end, each party should respect the central interests of the other.
Yet, through a series of events that have occurred at China's doorstep this month, the US is sending out mixed messages, raising doubts over whether the US wants to work with China in a candid way.
This week, the superpower has staged military drills with Japan and the Republic of Korea in the region. Given that tensions are now rising between China and Japan over the Diaoyu Islands, the US-Japan military exercise signals that Washington is throwing its military weight behind Tokyo.
Earlier this month, Washington went further in meddling in the South China Sea and issued unwarranted criticisms against China's establishment of Sansha city. All these moves only bolster the popular perception that the US is trying to contain China's rise in the region.
Prominent US officials have insisted that is not the case.
Whatever they say, it's clear that sending mixed and complicated signals about important regional issues is not the way to pass on messages to China and the region as a whole. Worse, it could lead to strategic misjudgments and have adverse effects on regional peace and stability.
(China Daily 08/23/2012 page8)
- Relief reaches isolated village
- Rainfall poses new threats to quake-hit region
- Funerals begin for Boston bombing victims
- Quake takeaway from China's Air Force
- Obama celebrates young inventors at science fair
- Earth Day marked around the world
- Volunteer team helping students find sense of normalcy
- Ethnic groups quick to join rescue efforts
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Supplies pour into isolated villages |
All-out efforts to save lives |
American abroad |
Industry savior: Big boys' toys |
New commissioner
|
Liaoning: China's oceangoing giant |
Today's Top News
Health new priority for quake zone
Xi meets US top military officer
Japan's boats driven out of Diaoyu
China mulls online shopping legislation
Bird flu death toll rises to 22
Putin appoints new ambassador to China
Japanese ships blocked from Diaoyu Islands
Inspired by Guan, more Chinese pick up golf
US Weekly
Beyond Yao
|
Money power |