Some U.S. Congressmen are in a restless mood. The debt crisis seems not to have been enough to sober them and make them think about the not-so-optimistic future of their economy. They are keen to make a living by encouraging arms sales to Taiwan. It appears that, far from worrying about how the arms sales might hurt Sino-U.S. relations, these politicians are propelling these sales deliberately to prove that Washington won't soften its policies on China.

Right now, there is a prevailing view in the United States that Sino-U.S. relations are in a state of equilibrium. According to this view, neither side wants or dares to break the balance. Prominent American political analyst Joseph Nye recently explained this equilibrium thusly: "If I depend on you more than you depend on me, you have power. But if we both depend equally upon each other, there is little power in the relationship. The situation, analogous to the theory of 'balance of terror,' where the price of aggression was the inevitable destruction of both sides, has both sides eager to maintain the balance of interdependence."

Some Americans further extended the theory to a "financial balance of terror." In their view, China could not realistically hold Washington hostage by selling dollars or ceasing to buy U.S. securities because it would not reduce the value of its reserves as the price of the dollar falls.

Through years of economic and trade cooperation, China and the United States have gradually formed an inseparable beneficial relation. To maintain such balance, it also needs goodwill to work together to solve common problems. If the U.S. government really cares about the balance, it should cherish the current situation and push forward relations together with China.

"Cooperation benefits both while confrontation can only bring hurt." Chinese often say this in handling Sino-U.S. relations. It means we should view all things from a broader perspective and solve disputes through equal consultation. It reflects China's pursuit of win-win cooperation and the openness and tolerance of the Chinese. Recently, more and more Americans have begun to say something like this. But their arrogance and conceit are still apparent.

Like balance of laws in nature, the break-even point of relations between countries is also in dynamic change. A good grip on it will promote relations. A bad one may hinder progress.

(This article was first published in Chinese and translated by Li Huiru.)

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