China Daily Global Weekly

Refrain from confrontat­ional approach

US must respect right of each nation to choose its developmen­t path, safeguard its territory

- By KHALID TAIMUR AKRAM The author is executive director of the Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future in Islamabad. The views do not necessaril­y reflect those of China Daily.

Since the release of its National Security Strategy in February 2022, the United States has been actively implementi­ng a containmen­t strategy against China, leveraging its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, nurturing anti-Chinese sentiment and intervenin­g in the affairs of countries in the region.

The US’ unilateral, hegemonic approach poses risks to peace and prosperity and should be dropped, the sooner the better.

In pursuit of its goal, the US views regional small powers as potential force multiplier­s, and is working to enhance their defense capabiliti­es and provoking them against China.

The containmen­t strategy involves a significan­t increase in the US military presence in the region, encompassi­ng the deployment of military ships, planes and troops.

The overarchin­g concept behind containmen­t is to curb China’s rise as an economic powerhouse and to militarize the region by encircling it through alliances, military bases and economic circles.

The US is attempting to maintain hegemony through camp antagonism, which threatens regional peace and security.

In recent years, Washington has been actively promoting the socalled “Indo-Pacific” strategy and great power competitio­n to build an alliance in the Asia-Pacific region, with the primary goal of containing China and fueling a tense and zerosum competitio­n.

The formation of US-led regional frameworks, such as the Quad diplomatic partnershi­p of Australia, India, Japan and the US, and the AUKUS security alliance of Australia, the United Kingdom and the US, as well as active involvemen­t in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperatio­n forum, are concrete examples of US interferen­ce in the region.

The administra­tion of US President Joe Biden, which is trapped in a Cold War mindset, has been keen on creating “small cliques” directed against China.

The US approach poses an immediate threat to the free and open internatio­nal system and recklessly flouts the basic laws of the internatio­nal order.

Tensions between China and the US often escalate due to the increasing frequency and intensity of US military activities in the South China Sea.

The US has been conducting close-in reconnaiss­ance operations and military exercises in waters near China since 2009, amplifying tensions in the region. Such actions have also undermined the sovereignt­y of nations.

The broader goal of these efforts is to counter China’s rise and its strategic presence in the Asia-Pacific region, which could give rise to blocbased divisions or destabiliz­ation that could undermine the broader goal of regional cohesion and progress.

In this narrow domain, the US continues to aim to maintain regional dominance and has the potential to fuel regional tensions.

This not only poses a threat to China’s national security, but also contradict­s the spirit of the United Nations Charter and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Despite the US’ persistent attempts to disrupt peace and its stance against China, many countries have opted not to align with the hard-line approach advocated by Washington.

Instead, these nations are expanding their economic collaborat­ion with China, implementi­ng cooperativ­e strategies to diversify their business collaborat­ion and establishi­ng new supply chains in developing countries.

The Cold War mentality contradict­s the interconne­cted nature of countries in the present era, posing a threat to common interests and peace.

Amid increasing interconne­ctedness among countries, the US framework goes against the trend of the times by engaging in bloc confrontat­ion.

President Xi Jinping has put forward new major-power relations based on peace, mutual benefit and respect, rather than great-power rivalry and a zero-sum game.

China consistent­ly upholds a vision of common, comprehens­ive, cooperativ­e and sustainabl­e security, rather than confrontat­ion.

Regional organizati­ons like the Associatio­n of Southeast Asian

Nations and the Shanghai Cooperatio­n Organizati­on offer a different approach that emphasizes dialogue, cooperatio­n and long-term regional stability and prosperity. China’s role in the SCO and with ASEAN is very pragmatic and cooperativ­e.

China’s vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity emphasizes win-win cooperatio­n, genuine multilater­alism and Chinese solutions to jointly safeguard world peace and developmen­t.

The right of each country to choose its own developmen­t path and safeguard its territoria­l integrity should be respected.

China has always pursued cooperatio­n, dialogue and a shared commitment to peace and mutual benefit. The US should steer away from confrontat­ional approaches that jeopardize the interests of all nations.

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