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Why does China need to balance the US?

By Zheng Yongnian: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, April 19, 2014

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[By Jiao Haiyang/China.org.cn]

Sino-U.S. relations have become strained since 2000. As the United States has expressed its support to Japan on the Diaoyu Islands Issue and enhanced relations with its allies in Asia, uncertainty in Sino-U.S. ties is getting bigger. Although the United States has repeatedly stated that China was not the target of its alliance with Asian countries, China obviously does not believe that.

The current situation between China and the United States satisfies the rules of international relations. The existing power fears the rising power, while the rising power challenges the existing one, which leads to a war of powers. It is the result of national interests. But there have been examples of peaceful coexistence and peaceful power transition among powers in history. Therefore, the status quo can be changed.

One has to understand a solid principle in international relations: a country will be punished if it does not act in its own national interests. The U.S. policy of "rebalancing Asia" aims to protect and develop its national interests in the region. Meanwhile, Asian countries invited the United States to pivot to Asia to protect their own interests in face of a rising China. They have to do so or they will be punished. But if they do it improperly, they will receive punishment from China.

In the face of the U.S. Asia rebalance, China has to change its passive stance and protect its own national interests in two ways. The first is to counter the U.S. rebalance. Second, it is more important to take the initiative in rebalancing the United States.

Counterbalancing or rebalancing can be achieved by two means. One is confrontational, such as the relations between the United States and the former Soviet Union. The other is cooperative, and can be achieved by sharing responsibilities in regional or international affairs. The relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom was once cooperative, and China and the United States may also have this kind of relationship. This actually is the essence of the "new type of great power relationship" proposed by China in recent years.

In the past more than 30 years, China has obtained its position in Asia through expansion of economic factors. Its economic growth has satisfied Asian countries' national interests. China and Asian countries have great potential for cooperation. Therefore, China can counterbalance the United States through cooperation in the region. The benefits from cooperation are much greater than those from confrontation for both China and the United States.

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