Several American Scholars Advise on U.S.-China Relations: The Both Sides Can Take Actions to Cool Tensions

 Carnegie Foundation website article on March 7, original title: Ask experts how to stabilize US-China relations In 2023, Sino-US relations will become increasingly tense due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Taiwan issue, the South China Sea issue, economic "decoupling" and other challenges , which has the potential to have a huge impact on global peace and security.

We invite some experts to answer a question: What steps can the United States and China each take to stabilize bilateral relations? The following experts suggest that both sides can take action to cool the growing tension between the two countries.

Keisha Brown, an associate professor at Tennessee State University: In the complex pattern of bilateral relations between the United States and China, one possible move that the two sides can take is to revive non-governmental exchanges. The beauty of this move is that it is easy to implement, given the widening gap in awareness between the two countries and their peoples in recent years. The need to encourage and facilitate understanding, cooperation, and collaboration at the individual level will be the cornerstone of a new dimension in U.S.-China relations in which experts in the field of U.S.-China relations will be reactivated and can inspire scholars entering the field.

Fu Tailin, professor of political science and director of the Security Studies Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology: As the two largest economies in the world, with huge military budgets and nuclear weapons, the United States and China must find a way to get along. One way is for both sides to recognize each other's legitimate interests, thereby paving the way for peaceful coexistence. Doing so would be politically embarrassing for both governments, but even if such an agreement were reached only in unofficial settings, it would broadly define the scope, intensity and, in some cases, the boundaries of the rivalry between the two sides.

Han Lei, China Director of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Among the many challenges in the US-China relationship, perhaps the most pressing challenge is the lack of stable high-level communication channels, including dialogue between the military. Despite the increasing differences between the two sides, in order to stabilize bilateral relations, China and the United States should strive to build and maintain high-level communication channels, and gradually formulate a set of rules and operating mechanisms to better manage US-China relations. Neither country wants wider confrontation or more serious conflict than managing competition.

Lin Biying, senior fellow on Asian security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies: US-China relations are subject to competition and mistrust—both sides believe that the other’s intentions and activities are aimed at undermining the other’s position and interests. Domestic factors are pushing leaders to take a tougher stance rather than find common ground. In the current context, there is no single measure that is both politically feasible and would significantly improve or stabilize bilateral tensions. On the contrary, in order to prevent the rapid deterioration of bilateral relations, both countries should maintain communication as much as possible, including diplomatic and military contacts, developing trade and increasing people-to-people exchanges.

Orville Scheer, director of the China-US Relations Research Center of the Asia Society of the United States: We are at a dangerous turning point. With the “engagement” strategy dysfunctional and the U.S.-China relationship already on the verge of rushing toward a more dangerous precipice, U.S. leaders should call their Chinese counterparts and suggest that each appoint three trusted former officials or policy experts to Meet in Singapore and propose a list of possible easing tensions or policy "red lines" for consideration by leaders of both countries. The two leaders could then meet and consider how these policy recommendations could be used to stabilize U.S.-China relations.

Sun Yun, director of the China Program at the Stimson Center, a US think tank, and a senior researcher: Between the US and China, domestic politics has become a key factor in promoting foreign policy, and it usually does not play a positive role. This forced both governments to adopt policies knowing that the consequences would not be as desired. The steps the United States and China can take to stabilize their relationship are to actively consider and take damage-mitigating actions.

Dong Yunshang, director of the Asia-Pacific Security Forum of the National Council on Foreign Policy of the United States: The United States and China should resume regular flights between the two countries as soon as possible and remove obstacles to visa issuance. Let people travel and meet. The administration should also reschedule Secretary of State Blinken's visit to China.