Strategic trust between Washington and Beijing

Yesterday, the New York Times published a letter I wrote regarding U.S.-China relations.

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Relations With China

Mark Landler and Sewell Chan identify recent factors of declining strategic trust between the United States and China (“White House Tries to Build United Front to Face China,” Oct. 26). But not all trend lines are negative.

American and Chinese officials demonstrate improved understanding of each other’s domestic politics of job creation and leadership transition. Each side is getting better at providing notice and explanation for decisions on sensitive issues (trade, currency, Tibet and Taiwan) to minimize disruption to bilateral relations.

The Obama administration knows that calling for a responsible China also means offering a seat at the table, and Beijing may at last recognize that suspending military-to-military relations is counterproductive.

Although national interests allow neither country to fully meet the requests of the other, both sides grasp the importance of keeping United States-China relations on the rails. Expect efforts at trust-building to increase with President Hu Jintao’s visit to Washington.