Why China and the US can avoid the Thucydides' trap
- By Li Zhihui
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E-mail Beijing Review, October 12, 2015
People-to-people exchanges
Forty-four years ago, the visit of a U.S. table tennis team to China opened a new chapter in China-U.S. relations. Now a flight runs between the two countries every 17 minutes. Over the next three years, China will support a total of 50,000 Chinese and American students to study in each other's countries. A focal point of Xi's U.S. visit was his extensive outreach to the American people. His visit will generate a new wave of interest in China and take people-to-people exchanges between the two nations to new heights.
Difference management
Differences in terms of history, culture and social systems as well as in the stages of development the two countries respectively inhabit make it only natural for China and the United States to have divergent opinions, but these do not by any means represent the norm in their ties. Even if there are issues that are at present irresolvable, they can be managed.
Over 90 intergovernmental dialogue and cooperation mechanisms have been set up, ensuring that when unhelpful comments or examples of narrow-minded strategic thinking arise, they cannot prevent the two countries from cooperation.
The two sides will continue to maintain strategic communication in the areas of the military, open seas, outer space and cyber domains so as to consolidate trust.
Mutual respect
American leaders have emphasized many times that they welcome a strong, prosperous and stable China playing a bigger role in international and regional affairs. Now it is time for the U.S. side to back up this important statement with concrete actions and follow it earnestly in its interactions with China.
If concerns over the Thucydides' trap are replaced with a commitment to developing a new model of major-country relationship, China and the United States will be able to make a great contribution to the world's future. It is time for the two countries to stand on the same side in order to escape the historical fatalism of confrontation between big powers.
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