China, US should avoid dialogue of deaf

U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is making her second China trip this year in Beijing. On Wednesday, Clinton met with Chinese President Hu Jintao and then held a joint press conference with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. "It’s a positive pattern to enhance the high-level dialogue between China and the United States,” said Sun Zhe, director of Center for China-U.S. Relations of China’s Tsinghua University. "The most urgent task for both sides is how to realize C2 (Coordination & Cooperation) from G2, in other words, is how to promote effective communication between Beijing and Washington,” Sun said. From Sun’s prospective, Clinton’s major task this time is to reassert U.S. stance, express U.S. concerns as well as demand China’s cooperation and self-control over the prolonged disputes. The United States keeps saying that it will not take sides over the Diaoyu Islands issue. Against this is US assurance and favoritism to Japan by holding joint military drill and publicly declaring that the islands are under the coverage of the U.S.-Japan defense treaty. Japan is making waves over the Diaoyu Islands, and “the conflicts will deteriorate if the United States cannot force Japan to show self-restraint,” said Sun.It will be in nobody’s favor if the dispute over the islands drags China-US relations into a downward spiral. Therefore, Beijing and Washington have to stick to negotiation and keep talking. How to make talk more effective? Sun said both sides should “upgrade” the content and substance of negotiation and address the concerns. For example, China needs to explain more on Chinese military’s transparency. As return, the United States should use action, rather than lip service, to reassure China on the motives behind U.S. return to Asia and Pacific. Both China and the United States have to look at issues from the perspective of the other side and avoid the futile dialogue of the deaf.