New power relations benefit both China and the US
- By Pang Zhongying
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E-mail China.org.cn, July 18, 2013
Forging a new type of major power relations may very well be the only way to achieve a win-win situation in this modern multi-polar world. However, the proposal has been boycotted by American hawks and conservatives.
In reality though, despite still enjoying much power and many allies, the U.S. cannot solve the tremendous challenges without joining forces with China.
With the invention of cyberspace and the discovery of outer space, today's world is entirely different from what it used to be. As the U.S. has an unquestionable advantage in these new fields, some may take for granted that the U.S. can have absolute hegemony in these fields; yet they are simply mistaken. Both cyberspace and outer space are global goods; they belong to the world, not just one nation in it. Any international relations involving cyberspace and outer space should be regulated by international rules that have been accepted and implemented by all countries.
The U.S. and China stand at the core of establishing the new type of major power relations. If the two can establish this and head a new type of international governance, we will witness a profound transformation in international relations.
At this time, however, the U.S. has not yet given sufficient thought to China's proposal. Its view of what matters seems to remain overshadowed by specific issues such as cyber security. No matter how important these issues are, without a clear framework and definition of China-U.S. relations, issues like cyber security won't be 100 percent solved.
For the U.S., forming a new type of major power relations with China will include a significant strategic opportunity. Through the proposal, China sent out a signal that it wants to cooperate with the U.S., and the nation's existing U.S. policy will remain unchanged.
The proposal also poses a challenge to the U.S.: China wants a more interactive relationship with the U.S., instead of maintaining the current one of dissymmetry.
Looking into the future, we can see China obtaining global trust and respect if it can stick to and develop its proposal of establishing a new type of major power relations.
The author is professor of international relations at the School of International Studies with Renmin University of China in Beijing. He is also the director of the Centre for the Study of Global Governance.
This article was translated by Li Huiru. The original unabridged version was published in Chinese.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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