U.S. Secretary Hagel’s China visit and President Obama’s trip to Asia illustrate the almost impossible balancing act of American Foreign Policy in the region of assuring the United States’ Asian allies that America will stand by them in a future conflict with China, while simultaneously mollifying Chinese fears of U.S. containment and precluding a deepening of Sino-Russian ties.

China has always valued military secrecy, however Richard Weitz explains that in recent years China has advanced in terms of transparency and the importance of clear communication between China and the U.S.

The just concluded visit of US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to China may send a signal that developing a new type of major power relationship is not a near-term possibility. The zero-sum Cold War mentality of Washington elites, together with present-day alliance structures, may prove an insurmountable barrier, writes Clifford A. Kiracofe.

Yu Sui hopes that Chuck Hagel’s current trip in China can provide positive momentum for the formulation of the new-type major-country relationship between China and the United States.

Against the background of building a new type of great power relationship, Secretary Chuck Hagel’s visit to China will push the China-US military relationship to a higher level, writes Zhao Xiaozhuo.

Secretary Hagel’s visit will help remove obstacles and overcome difficulties, facilitate exchanges and cooperation, and build a new type of Sino-US military relationship, writes Wu Zurong.

Following a difficult confirmation process, Chuck Hagel has been sworn in as the 24th U.S. Secretary of Defense. Hagel faces many challenges including the DPRK nuclear threat, the dispute over the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands, and how to navigate the bilateral relationship with China.