Regional tensions in Asia have precipitously increased as disputes in the South China Sea continue to grow. While Zhai Kun notes that the current escalation is controllable, future conflicts cannot be ruled out.

Can the United States and China continue to build mutual trust through increased military exchanges? According to Wu Zurong, recent developments have boosted military-to-military relations between the two countries, but more must be done to reaffirm US claims that it has no intention of containing China.

Japan and the United States are competing for a dominant role in the Asia-Pacific, as the negotiations over the TPP ad the new Japan-US defense guidelines inflame tensions in the bilateral relationship, writes Liu Junhong.

Threat perception is leading to a security crisis in East Asia. Zhang Tuosheng suggests six steps for reducing misperceptions and stemming the crisis.

As heads of state from across Africa convene in Washington, D.C. this week for the 2014 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, Robert Rotberg discusses the uphill battle the United States has to gain influence on a continent where China has a dominant foothold.

How can the Obama administration improve U.S.-China relations while applying greater pressure on North Korea? As Doug Bandow explains, this will be a difficult endeavor and require compromises from both nations.

Challenging as it is, the creation of a new type of major-country relationship will provide a constructive model for future relations between rising powers and incumbent powers, writes Fu Mengzi.

Prime Minister Abe’s reinterpretation of the Peace Constitution is partially the result of US pressure for Japan to contribute more to the alliance. Although, a more nuanced explanation is Abe’s realization that the United States would likely not risk war with China over territorial disputes and so he has taken the first step towards an independent defense posture for Japan.

China’s strengthening cooperation with Latin American countries will benefit regional economic prosperity and development, and is also in the interest of the US, according to Dong Chunling and Sun Changhao.

President Xi Jinping’s recent trip to Latin America underscored four aspects of China’s outreach efforts to Latin America. To expand South-South cooperation, to promote multi-polarity, to hedge against risks and challenges to future development by enhancing BRICS and Latin American cooperation, and to improve the provision of international public goods.