Given her family's history in diplomacy and government, it is no surprise that high hopes have been set for Caroline Kennedy, nominated to be the US Ambassador to Japan. As tensions between the United States, China and Japan continue to heighten, Dr. Jin Ying analyzes the high expectations set for Kennedy's new position.

As long as there is sufficient political will and wisdom in Northeast Asia, the prospects for regional cooperation is encouraging, writes Chen Jimin.

Identifying six legitimate maritime interests for China in the South China Sea, Shen Dingli explains how China perceives its current territorial disputes and offers recommendations for easing tensions in the region.

China may view Ms. Kennedy’s appointment as a show of favoritism shown to Japan, but the move should still be welcomed in Beijing. An Ambassador Kennedy would not only be an asset in improving US - Japan relations, but would also be invaluable in bringing Japan to the table to resolve conflicts with its neighbors.

Congressional involvement in foreign policy can cause difficulties for any U.S. administration. Recent resolutions passed regarding the South and East China Seas and their territorial disputes, although seemingly harmless, carry a deep undertone and may be thrusting the U.S. government further into a regional issue that it cares to be involved.

The recent meeting between South Korean and Chinese officials was welcomed by the United States. However, all parties should remain conscious of the delicate issues at hand, including rising Japanese nationalism, these state of the Chinese economy, the stability of the Korean Peninsula.

The dispute over territory in the South China Sea has become a flashpoint for Asian regional politics. China’s policy has used both big and small-stick diplomacy to assert its claim to the region. In doing so, it has formed a new normality for the region.

The state of security in Northeast Asia will be counteractive to the state of Sino-US relations. Thus, increased cooperation in Northeast Asia will also provide a favorable opportunity and important platform to cultivate a new type of relations between China and the United States.

As the United States continues its rebalance toward the Asia-Pacific, Southeast Asian nations continue to rely upon US influence and military strength to counterbalance China. However, China’s regional power continues to grow and the economic incentives for aligning with China far outweigh those pushing nations toward the US.

ASEAN must stop its members from fanning trouble to ensure ties between China and Southeast Asian countries prosper.