Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) shakes hands with US Vice President Joe Biden (left) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

 
Read more in Daily Special(s): Biden visits China amid airspace concerns

US Vice President Joe Biden left Japan and started his visit to China Wednesday. During his stay in Japan, the key talks around him were mainly about China's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea. While in China, there are plenty of issues that can be talked about and the ADIZ is only one of them.

A new type of great power relations between China and the US is the foundation of long-term peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region. The strategic significance of Sino-US cooperation will not be overshadowed by their discrepancy over a certain matter. The current tension in the East China Sea is stirred up by Japan to win pity.

China has no intention to provoke Japan or the US-Japan military alliance. Japan deliberately created a crisis and tried to get the US involved, hoping the US and China will evolve into confrontation. We believe although the US has been clear in opposing China's establishment of the ADIZ, both China and the US can handle this discrepancy.

China, the US, the Asia Pacific region and even the entire world request China and the US become partners. It would be a nightmare if the two openly and actively confront each other. The Japan-US relationship is not a decisive factor in Sino-US relations. China's significance to the US and vice versa will not be influenced by Japan's role in their relations.

The leadership from both sides might have talked about economic issues and political issues such as Iran and North Korea. The dispute between China and Japan wouldn't have taken up much time. Biden is unlikely to show up as an opponent when he is visiting China. But if so, China will not hold back.

The key for the two to communicate more is to reduce their strategic mistrust. The US should be aware that it is also important to show kindness to Chinese society.

The Chinese public has been worried that the US may contain China by exploiting its territorial disputes with neighboring countries and there has been concern that the US pivot to Asia is targeted at China.

China's foreign policy takes the sentiment of the public into consideration. If the US really has no intention to contain China, it should not take the initiative in creating conflicts in areas that concern China's core interests. The US always talks about the balance of East Asia and its own role as a moderator. But it's worth noting that China's rise is a natural process for the country's development rather than China's strategy to challenge the order in East Asia. The balance the US talks about should tolerate China's reasonable strategic demands. The US should avoid taking a stand in China's territorial disputes with its neighboring countries.

The Chinese people might have sensed the US logic from Biden's visit. Discussing American freedom with Chinese students at the US embassy is just a "routine event" involving senior US officials during trips to China. Americans will find Chinese society does not put high demands on their country. They should also not hold prejudice toward China's so-called nationalism.  They may reflect if they need to adjust their behavior when a society as undemanding and mild as China cultivates nationalism toward the US.