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Amid the flurry of disputes that have brought a chill to Sino-US ties – regardless of the impact of the recent fence-mending visit by two high-level US officials – some analysts observe that China merely plays a defensive game while the US always serves the ball.


That observation is hardly true.


Should China expect to gain a solid footing on the ever-changing world stage and take on the severe challenges of the "most complicated year," its strategic vision needs to go far beyond the defense-or-offense logic.


"Readjusting focus" for viewing each other's differences and common ground, as Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi put it at a press conference Sunday on the sidelines of the Third Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), is vital for the healthy growth of bilateral ties.


Despite the clashes and conflicts over issues, the interests of the world's sole superpower and the fastest-growing economy are so intertwined and globalized in their implications that neither of them can afford the heavy price that may be extracted by strained relations.


As for the differences, given the vast political, economic, ideological, cultural and social divergences between the two nations, there should always be a strong case for China to spell out the basis of the differences before taking any concrete measure to address them.


The cropping up of some thorny issues, brought about by old differences, should not detract from the irreversible trend of cooperation and compromise that has shaped "one of the most important bilateral relations in the 21st century."


And as for shared interests, it should be borne in mind that the two countries have different priorities, even when on common ground, based on their respective national interests.


While issues such as the yuan's appreciation and Iran's nuclear program may top US President Barack Obama's agenda, China's pace of response to these issues is calculated to match its domestic economic conditions. Here, the heavy agenda of the "two sessions", now underway in Beijing, is an excellent example.


China's success in the past three decades is not only attributable to its market-oriented economic policy. It is also the result of making a crucial break and pushing for open communication with Western countries such as the US and developing in that process.


When Sino-US relations face any turbulence, this is a valuable experience that can serve as a reference point.
Rising China's confidence is evident in its swift and firm response to the US arms sales to Taiwan and Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama.


But as China marches forward in fulfillment of a strategic vision, there is much to be said in favor of new thinking beyond the defense-or-offense logic.


Global Times

netawhile

The tactic of saying that China is taking a defensive stance is a cheap shot.  It's easy to toss out some label or result to name-calling when other approaches have failed.  The things is, China is pro-actively trying to watch out for their own interests amid various issues that can put stress on internal and external vitality.  The U.S. can do more to show respect for China before it starts accusing her of anything.  China will be more willing to give and take if the U.S. shows more willingness to cooperate and review the larger context of the world's pressing issues.  It a way, it seems that China represents a newer direction in stability, while the U.S. goes cross-grain.  There are real issues that the U.S. wants help to pursue.  There are real threats that affect us all.  Unfortunately, there will be little progress if the U.S. and China can't reach an accord on many of their interrelated 'hot spots'.  The most threatening rogue adversaries bask in these delays and conflicts between the superpowers.  Yes I include China when I say 'superpowers' because of their importance.