US rejects the inevitability of confrontation with China

Washington: The National Security Strategy unveiled by the Obama Administration on Friday “rejects” the inevitability of confrontation with China, even though it accepts “there will be competition” between the world’s two biggest economies. “While there will be competition, we reject the inevitability of confrontation,” said the NSS on China. “At the same time, we will manage competition from a position of strength while insisting that China uphold international rules and norms on issues ranging from maritime security to trade and human rights,” it said. [caption id=“attachment_2084455” align=“alignleft” width=“380” class=" “]  Representational image. Reuters[/caption] “We will closely monitor China’s military modernisation and expanding presence in Asia while seeking ways to reduce the risk of misunderstanding or miscalculation,” it said. “On cyber security, we will take necessary actions to protect our businesses and defend our networks against cyber-theft of trade secrets for commercial gain whether by private actors or the Chinese government,” it said. The NSS noted that the US welcomes the rise of a stable, peaceful, and prosperous China. “We seek to develop a constructive relationship with China that delivers benefits for our two peoples and promotes security and prosperity in Asia,” it said. “We seek cooperation on shared regional and global challenges such as climate change, public health, economic growth, and the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula,” the report said. Reiterating that the US has been and will remain a Pacific power, the NSS said over the next five years, nearly half of all growth outside the US is expected to come from Asia. “That said, the security dynamics of the region — including contested maritime territorial claims and a provocative North Korea — risk escalation and conflict. “American leadership will remain essential to shaping the region’s long-term trajectory to enhance stability and security, facilitate trade and commerce through an open and transparent system, and ensure respect for universal rights and freedoms,” it said. “To realise this vision, we are diversifying our security relationships in Asia as well as our defense posture and presence. We are modernising our alliances with Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the Philippines and enhancing the interactions among them to ensure they are fully capable of responding to regional and global challenges,” the NSS said. “We will uphold our treaty obligations to South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and Thailand, while encouraging the latter to return quickly to democracy. We will support the people of Burma to deepen reforms, including democratic consolidation and national reconciliation,” it said. America is committed to strengthening regional institutions such as ASEAN, the East Asia Summit, and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation to reinforce shared rules and norms, forge collective responses to shared challenges, and help ensure peaceful resolution of disputes, it said. PTI