Ted Carpenter argues that the contentious Taiwan issue has merely been slumbering during the presidency of Ma Ying-jeou, and it now shows signs of awakening as a part of Taiwan’s greater assertiveness toward Beijing – which also implicates the United States in their role as “protector.”

Internal causes in China are the basis of changes and developments in Asia, while external causes, such as relations with the other parts of the world, are secondary, and become operative through internal causes in Asia. Through this logic, Wu Zurong argues that the U.S. should consider its own development path before concerning itself with lost influence in Asia.

The recent landslide victory of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has obvious implications for China-U.S. relations, and for a cross-strait standoff between the countries two militaries. Washington should preempt any possible cross-strait military build-up and engage in a sincere dialogue about the democratic future of Taiwan in a “one country, two systems” solution.

China has two key challenges in the years ahead. The first is to build a new, global rules-based system with the other major world power, the United States, that supplants the post-WWII order.

Intensification of Russia-U.S. tensions since 2003 has an objective impact on America’s strategic shift east and delays the beginning of a comprehensive strategic game between China and U.S. over economic and political competition in the Pacific.

Jin Ying warns the U.S. to be weary of Japan, citing their history of “running away with the bone” as the U.S. and China jostle for influence in the Pacific. Ying agrees with Democratic advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski that the U.S. should sign a major charter with China, just as it did with Britain during WWII.

Below is the excerpts of the theme speech on China-US relationship by Executive Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui at China-United States Exchange Foundation A

What kind of legacy President Obama will have after he leaves office in two years? The outcome of the midterm elections has led many to question what he will leave behind for the world at large.

The Xi-Abe meeting during APEC marked an important step towards improving relations between the two countries. One meeting is far from enough for the two to bridge fundamental differences on issues relating to history and territorial disputes, but the two sides importantly reached a principled consensus on managing their differences.

As China assists in Afghanistan’s reconstruction, some U.S. experts describe China as a “free-rider” in global conflict, despite the interests China shares with the U.S. in promoting peace and stability in the “Eurasian crossroads.” Sino-Afghan cooperation is not a zero-sum game where China gains and the U.S. loses. Instead, cooperation benefits both.