Editor's Note

US Vice President Joe Biden has arrived in Beijing for meetings with top Chinese leaders. Biden is visiting Japan, China and South Korea, amid the international concern over China's new air defense identification zone over the East China Sea.

Latest News

Chinese VP meets with Biden Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao met with his US counterpart Joe Biden in Beijing on Wednesday. Biden arrived in Beijing Wednesday for a two-day official visit to China. This is his second China trip since he took office in 2009.

Biden seeks ease in tensions US Vice President Joe Biden called on China and Japan to reduce tensions over China's newly established Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the East China Sea ahead of his visit to Beijing on Wednesday. Japan’s NSC to have hotlines with US, UK Japan will set up hotlines to Washington and London to boost cooperation with its allies when its new US-style National Security Council starts work, a report said Tuesday. Biden to broach ADIZ on East Asia trip During a stop in Beijing, Biden will highlight "areas of concern, including regional tensions," the White House said in a statement. More broadly, the trip to Japan, China and South Korea was planned to emphasize Washington's "enduring presence as a Pacific power ... and underscore our commitment to rebalancing US foreign policy towards the Asia-Pacific," the statement added.

Focus

●know more about China's new reform plan and the directions of policies after the conclusion of the Third Plenary Session of the Communist Party of China Central Committee

●spur trade and economic cooperation with China
China's determination to boost its market-oriented and consumer-driven economy would offer tremendous opportunities for the United States to foster its own economic growth and further shrink its jobless population.

●complete the Trans- Pacific Partnership negotiations

●help lower tensions in the East China Sea and the South China Sea

●discuss regional hotspot issues: the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Iran nuclear issue, Syria crisis

Agenda

●attend an official welcome ceremony in the Great Hall of the People

●meet with Vice President Li Yuanchao

●hold a restricted bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping

●hold an expanded bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping

Source: The White House

Commentary

Global Times: Biden seeks ease in tensions
Niu Xinchun, a deputy director of the Institute of American Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times that the US will only back Japan on issues of common interest instead of supporting it indiscriminately.

Shi Yinhong, director of the Center of American Studies at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times that the US in no way is a mediator between China and Japan, because it rather leans toward Japan in its position. 

"The US could play a steady role in reducing the likelihood of direct confrontation between China and Japan," Shi said, but noting the various statements on China's ADIZ given by US government departments suggested the US is leaning toward Japan strategically, and not acting as a mediator. 

Xinhua:US risks huge loss in Asia-Pacific if Japan keeps drifting to far right
It's somewhat understandable that Washington wants to do something to shore up its little brother. Yet when Tokyo keeps pissing off almost everybody in the region by its attitude toward its wartime history, it would ultimately cost the United States more than it would gain from backing a country that still honors those whose hands were red with American blood.

A wise and far-sighted Washington should choose to play a constructive role in the region to stop indulging Japan's recklessness in exchange for a mess of pottage, and to persuade the island nation not to go too far.

CCTV: Expert: Biden key to regional communication
“As you said he’s doing shadow diplomacy. He’s gone to Japan, he’s going to Seoul, so in that sense he’s also a negotiator, he’s trying to be a channel of communication for this region so I think this is a well planned trip not only by the US but by Chinese too, we worked together. Everyone knows, they see the tension here and China I think has a 100 reasons to make that announcement. I think right now maybe China and the United States can sit down and talk and try to work out some other strategies with Japan, with South Korea.” Professor Sun Zhe from the Tsinghua Center for US-China Relations said.

taihainet.com
Guo Xiangang, Vice President of China Institute of International Studies

China’s Air Defense Identification Zone over the East China Sea will be a key topic of discussion between China’s top leaders and Biden during his visit. However, both China and the US are aware that there is very limited space left for negotiations over the issue, as both sides have clearly expressed their stance. Although the US objects to China’s move, they have not responded as extremely as Japan. The fact that the US government allows their airlines to notify Chinese authorities of their flight plans shows that the US does not want to have a fallout with China over the issue. Biden will represent the US’ interests, but he will not act as tough as Japan expects.

Wen Wei Po:
Biden’s visit to Asia has been timed very carefully. Biden is making up for Obama’s cancelled Asian trip due to the federal government shutdown earlier this year in order to reiterate the US’ attached importance to the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, Biden also needs to consider the interests of allies Japan and South Korea, who have expressed strong opposition to China’s new identification zone. In addition, Biden must also mediate any conflict between Japan and South Korea in order to consolidate the alliance.

Responses

Foreign Ministry: Spokesperson Hong Lei's Regular Press Conference on December 3, 2013 At present, China-US relations in general enjoy an active and stable momentum of growth. Building a new model of China-US major-country relationship and keeping the healthy and steady growth of bilateral relationship serves the fundamental interests of both peoples. It is also conducive to peace, stability and prosperity of the region and beyond. China is ready to work with the US to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and President Obama, and translate the spirit of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation to every aspect of bilateral relationship. The two sides should strengthen dialogue, mutual trust and cooperation, effectively manage differences and sensitive issues, work for new progress in the building of the major-country relationship, and make contribution to peace, stability and development of the region and beyond.

The White House: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 12/2/2013 The Vice President... has an excellent relationship with the leaders of all three countries, and he will underscore how important it is to avoid actions that raise tensions and to prevent miscalculations that could undermine peace, security, and prosperity in the region. This is an opportunity for Vice President Biden to raise our concerns directly with policymakers in Beijing and to seek clarity regarding the Chinese intentions in making this move at this time.   We do not accept the legitimacy of China’s requirements for operating in the newly declared ADIZ.

Biden in Japan

Japan hopes cooperation with US in ongoing TPP talks Japan’s NSC to have hotlines with US, UK Abe, Biden agree to address ADIZ concerns in coordinated manner

Related News

US vice president kicks off Asia visit

Major US airlines heed warning to observe ADIZ rules

Japan, S.Korea defy ADIZ

US NSC official visits Seoul to discuss air defense zone issue

ADIZ issues need cooperative management

China, US reaffirm commitment to enhancing practical cooperation,people-to-people exchange


Web editor: wangnan1@globaltimes.com.cn