When the People's Republic of China joined the United Nations 41 years ago, it looked at the peacekeeping operations with great suspicion. However, China has now become the largest provider of peacekeepers to Africa among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

It will be of mutual benefit if China and the US can cooperate on a number of issues, especially when those issues revolve around the security of the relationship. Therefore the three greatest security issues are the lack of mutual trust, Taiwan, and US domestic laws that hinder military-to-military cooperation.

A prominent figure in Taiwan’s opposition party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Frank Hsieh made a five-day “unfolding visit ” to the Chinese mainla

Many in China see the US “pivot” to Asia and the development of the Air-Sea-Battle strategy as clear provocations aimed to contain China. Only through frank dialogue between top leaders, academics and strategists, as well as the next generation of military leaders, in both countries can we hope to lessen the strategic distrust that exists between the US and China.

In the wake of the anti-US protests across the Middle East, confrontation and contest will remain a major feature dominating the development of the world for quite some time to come.

Despite rising tensions in the South China Sea, conflict can and should be averted. A good first step would be to acknowledge that the South China Sea is part global good, part sovereign territory. Through greater dialogue, trust-building and transparency, informal rules of the sea can accommodate both a rising China and a strong America.

The Asia-Pacific region is very dynamic and fast changing, not only in economic terms but also in security terms. Three recent developments will have profound implication on regional security.

During his stopover in Japan earlier this month, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced that the United States and Japan would construct a second advanced missile defense radar in Japan, drawing concern and condemnation from China. However, strategies exist to allay Chinese concerns while also bolstering regional cooperation.

Considering the dominant position that the US alliance system has enjoyed in regional Asian security affairs, Asia-Pacific division can be expected, which will be a disaster not only for China, but also for the US, its regional allies and the world as a whole.

It is imperative that Washington makes its position in the South China Sea clear in order to reduce the risk to the United States and its interests.