The combination of the U.S. pivot to Asia and the reemergence of nationalism in Japan has created tension in the Asia-Pacific region. As China continues to feel threatened by the close relations between the U.S. and Japan, Wu Zurong points out that irritants to Sino-U.S. relations will hurt the Asia-Pacific as a whole.

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.