Coordination will stave off another Korean War
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No one really wants to fight a war in Korea, but some are tempted to create a Cold War situation in Northeast Asia in order to create new pressures and extract benefits for themselves. This temptation must be resisted. It is urgent for China and the US to strengthen coordination on the issue of the Korean Peninsula to prevent any side taking advantage of the current tense situation. This kind of coordination will promote China-US mutual trust and avoid "prisoner's dilemma."
Coordination between, and control by, China and the US must not betray the interests of the Korean Peninsula, nor neglect the legitimate interests of Koreans, but instead provide a kind of insurance to Asia, the peninsula and the world that declares: There will be no war on the peninsula. The peninsula will develop toward peace. The Cold War will ultimately be brought to an end.
China is not going to fight with the US for the right to decide the fate of the Korean Peninsula. China's focus is on the fate of the Korean people, because their lives are closely linked to those of Chinese people. Similarly, it wants Chinese and American people to have a peaceful and stable life.
By strengthening coordination with the US on this issue, China shows its willingness to get along with the US and its desire to focus on peace and development. The US also has reason to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula. If the US wants to maintain its position in Asia, it must listen to China's views on this issue.
The Cold War on the peninsula is in nobody's interest, including the US. The United States cannot use force to make its interests in East Asia prevail. Instead it must learn to coordinate with China. The sooner the US realizes this, the better.
Effective Sino-US coordination on the Korean Peninsula issue, which will improve US relations with a rising China, is more in line with long-term US interests in Asia.
The author is a senior editor with the People's Daily. dinggang@globaltimes.com.cn
