Economic and political relations between China and the US have been progressing smoothly, though dotted with occasional bickers, but military exchange between the two powers is still clouded with mistrust, and is not commensurate with the importance of this bilateral relation.
The 10th China-US Defense Consultative Talks, to be held in Beijing today and tomorrow, is expected to give military-to-military engagement some much-needed momentum.
Soon after US President Barack Obama took office, the two countries made a good decision to resume military dialogue, which was suspended by China in October 2008 after a new round of US arms sale to Taiwan.
Both sides have felt that a lack of high-level military exchange has hindered the advancement of cooperation.
In the past, military mishaps, like the NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade in 1999 and the collision of a US reconnaissance aircraft with a Chinese jet in 2001, have nearly sidetracked diplomatic relations. Neither side wants to see similar incidents occur in the future.
In the past eight years, increased exchanges have brought the longest period of stable military ties between China and the US. As two key players in regional and global security, the two countries should maintain this momentum.
A series of standoffs between Chinese and US naval ships however have also illustrated the possibility of more military tension, and highlighted the necessity of improving military dialogue.
The latest military talks will cover a broad range of topics, including North Korea, the Taiwan question, and the increasing naval standoffs between the two countries in the South China Sea.
The actual result of the talk remains to be seen, but such open dialogue is the best way to build trust between the two militaries.
Divergent security concerns and skepticism over China's military buildup remain the biggest obstacles to advancing military relations.
Hawks in the US, driven by a "China fear" or their own self-interest, aren't likely to give up the idea of containing China. This has sometimes pushed the US military to be overly aggressive in China's neighboring areas.
The US still maintains a large military presence in East Asia, while China's regional influence is growing rapidly. In the meantime, both countries are seeing wider fronts for military cooperation in the region, such as combating terrorism and solving the North Korea issue.
Increased military trust is a must-have as China and the US look to boost their political relations. It is also essential to promote the smooth transition of the Asia-Pacific security system.
Source:Global Times
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