If the United States is targeting China, what should China do?

The United States has issued some new concepts of military theory, such as "air-sea battles" and "cyberspace operations." We should take two attitudes about this—one is to stay alert, and the other is to stay calm.

Even as the United States claims it isn't targeting China, we need to thoroughly analyze its intent. The United States declared that its new military concepts are targeting certain countries' "anti-access/area denial" abilities. Experts on military theory can easily tell that the so-called "anti-access/area denial" means the Chinese military may deny U.S. forces' access to the Asia-Pacific region.

Moreover, China should remain steady instead of dancing to the American rhythm. When the United States makes a move, we need to figure out how to deal with it. But we still need to stick to our development path of realizing national defense modernization with Chinese characteristics. We should not attempt military competition with the United States.

Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai said China understands U.S. interests and concerns in the Asia-Pacific region, and it hopes the United States would also fully respect China's interests and concerns in the region. What are their different concerns? Can the two nations maintain a positive relationship in the region?

As we know, the U.S. security concern in the region is to guarantee the safety of its sea line of communication. We should add that its sea line of communication has not been threatened as claimed. The United States' example was that its military surveillance ship USNS Impeccable was interfered with when carrying out inspection missions in China's exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea in 2009. In fact, the U.S. action violated the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. According to the convention, military ships should follow the principle of "innocent passage" in exclusive economic zones, instead of conducting surveillance activities there. If the United States can give up its hegemonic attitude and stop military inspections in China's exclusive economic zones, then its security concern over the safety of its sea line of communication undoubtedly can be satisfied.

China's security concern is its sovereignty, territorial integrity and interests at sea, which the United States should respect. After all, it is the United States that has come to China's doorstep. China has never done anything jeopardizing the security and interests of the United States in the U.S. neighborhood. We hope the United States can be a peace promoter in China's neighboring areas instead of a troublemaker.

If both sides have the sincerity to conduct friendly consultations to enhance trust and reduce misgivings based on the principle of maintaining their good relationship and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, then strategic balance in the region can be guaranteed. But now, the United States is holding the ball.

Can you give us a brief overview of your association and its tasks?

The China Strategic Culture Promotion Association was founded on January 5, 2011. It is a non-governmental and non-profit organization formed by scholars, researchers and entrepreneurs who are enthusiastic about strategy and culture.

We mainly study strategic and cultural issues as well as relations across the Taiwan Straits. We also study international affairs, such as events in the United States, Asia-Pacific region, Europe and China's neighboring countries. We follow domestic and international news, make strategic predictions, and introduce China's strategic culture to the world so as to enhance trust with other countries.

Email us at: dingying@bjreview.com