The Taiwan question remains the most sensitive and complicated factor in Sino-US relations. It has proved the most destructive to a normal military exchange. The White House's development of military ties with Taiwan in violation of the three Sino-US Joint Communiques, in particular its constant arms sales to the island that contradicts the spirit of the Aug 17 Communique, has seriously compromised the political foundation of bilateral relations.
China will not tolerate any infringement into its core national interests and will make no concession on this principal issue. Good interaction in cross-Straits relations by the Chinese mainland and Taiwan has deprived the US of any excuses for continued arms sales to the island.
China's reasonable military development and military transparency has long been an outstanding issue in Sino-US bilateral relations.
In recent years, US-led Western countries have continuously trumpeted the "China's military threat" theory and accused its normal military buildup of posing a serious threat to regional and world peace and stability. At the same time, they have attributed sluggish mutual trust building to Chinese military's lack of transparency. Despite being among the world's largest military forces, China's military has long been plagued by input insufficiency and its deterrence and fighting capability is still far from its demand to tackle traditional and non-traditional security threats.
Due to historical, cultural and social factors, China's military transparency should be a gradual process. Also, what's more important than transparency in military budgeting, military size and weapons is transparency in strategic intention.
China has made a solemn commitment to the international community that it will by no means pursue military expansion and will consistently adhere to a path of peaceful development. The country would not seek hegemony even if it becomes more powerful. All these commitments have made China's peaceful military strategy crystal clear.
Facing the increasing number of traditional and non-traditional security threats, all countries should strengthen cooperation, especially in the military field. As two big responsible powers, China and the US should conduct military exchanges on an equal and mutually beneficial footing. They should eliminate the past zero-sum stereotype and push for a win-win result for a healthier and more stable bilateral relationship.
The author, Yang Yi, is Rear Admiral with the Institute for Strategic Studies, National Defense University.
(China Daily February 27, 2009)