US Secretary of State John Kerry's whirlwind trip to China is reportedly aimed at pressing China on North Korea's nuclear issue. The South China Sea issue and cross-Straits ties will also be included. The atmosphere between Chinese and US diplomats will not be relaxing.

The essence of Pyongyang's nuclear issue lies in the confrontation between North Korea and the US, with the former resisting the latter's unreasonable military pressure in the wrong way. But by guiding international opinion, Washington has created the impression that China is key to solving North Korea's nuclear deadlock.

Now the West is scrutinizing whether Beijing will impose pressure on Pyongyang.

Judging from media leak, China will not fully adopt solutions proposed by the US, such as halting oil exports to North Korea and banning North Korean civilian aircraft from overflying Chinese territory. These measures will deal a heavy blow to North Korean people's livelihoods.

China is more willing to carry out measures that precisely target North Korea's nuclear ambitions. If there is a humanitarian crisis, it will have a profound influence on its closest neighbor, China.

But we believe that China and the US can overcome the seemingly big discrepancies and find a compromise in how to impose sanctions on Pyongyang. Washington wishes to dominate the process of sanctions against North Korea. It also hopes China can take up all the responsibilities of Washington, Tokyo and Seoul, turning the issue into a confrontation between China and North Korea, so that it can sit still.

But Washington should be clear that it cannot push China around. It would be too naïve for the US to lead China by the nose. Big power diplomacy in the 21st century is not based on this logic.

South Korea should avoid using the THAAD missile system as leverage against China. The system will pose a threat to China's security. If Seoul does so, it will severely hurt mutual trust between China and South Korea.

Pyongyang sees a major power contest around it. The remaining Cold War mentality and the current international rivalry intertwine with each other. The solution to its nuclear issue should target the security aspect rather than an approach which is too broad. China's pragmatism should be respected.

The strategic relationship between China and the US confronts problems in the Asia-Pacific and even the entire world. Making bilateral relations more mature and certain is no less important than solving North Korea's nuclear issue. Washington should be aware of this.

Hopefully, the exchanges between Kerry and his Chinese counterparts can be comprehensive and constructive.