2016年CRI Restrain things from escalation: expert on Sino-US relations

 

Last week's ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration¹ in the Hague has led some observers to suggest there is a growing polarization of camps among those who do and don't back China's position on the dispute with the Philippines.

This includes some who have suggested the dispute could eventually end up in an armed conflict.

Su Ge, President of the China Institute of International Studies, says rational thinking is going to be what's needed to ensure that scenario² doesn't become a reality.

"Do not feed each other, and do not let things escalate³. When you send planes too close, and you might feed the rationale to the Chinese military. That is precisely⁴ the reason, just as you have the military capabilities⁵ in Guam, and because you are so close, we have to have capabilities to defend these islands to make sure lives and properties are safe."

Compounding the issue is the timing⁶ of the ruling, which comes amid the current presidential election campaign in the United States.

The 4-year cycle often increases political rhetoric⁷, as candidates on both sides of the aisle⁸ have been known to use the United States' relationship with China as a way to galvanize support among the voter base in both the Democratic and Republican camps.

Pundits⁹ and candidates on both sides have been critical of the outgoing Obama administration for being too soft on China.

Elizabeth Economy, Director of the American Council on Foreign Relations, says Chinese officials need to look past the stump¹⁰ speeches and work toward shoring up the broader relationship.

"It may not be the new candidates come in and say we have to be tough on China, although every candidate says that every election, this is not something new. We want to work with China. China matters enormously. The importance that President Obama places on China is extremely significant. The optimism, the degree to which the president feels we have a natural partner across a full-range of issues has diminished."

The United States and China have been able to work together recently on a number of key issues, including climate change, the Iranian nuclear issue and the long-term development of the global economy.

However, these issues tend to be overlooked when observers talk about the Sino-US dynamic, which also has a lasting¹¹ impact on economic ties.

A recent survey by the US Chamber¹² of Commerce suggests 77-percent of US companies operating in China feel less welcome than they have in the past.

Dennis Wilder is the former director of East Asian Affairs with the National Security Council under former President George W. Bush.

He suggests governments in both the US and China should be considering steps beyond the Strategic and Economic Dialogue the two sides conduct once a year.

"The Strategic Economic Dialogue, as it exists today, is useful and can continue. You have to make a commitment on a higher level to doing something that isn't sitting in large chairs together. We have a distance between the US and China. One of the things we were criticized in the Bush administration for is that Condoleezza Rice would not go to Southeast Asia very often. We were guilty. But people at the senior level have got to make a commitment to spending real time with each other."

This year's World Peace Forum¹³, the 5th put on by Tsinghua University, will run through this Sunday.

1 arbitration   

n.调停，仲裁

参考例句：

• The wage disagreement is under arbitration.工资纠纷正在仲裁中。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding.双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

2 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

3 escalate   

v.(使)逐步增长(或发展)，(使)逐步升级

参考例句：

• It would tempt Israel's neighbors to escalate their demands.它将诱使以色列的邻国不断把他们的要求升级。
• Defeat could cause one side or other to escalate the conflict.失败可能会导致其中一方将冲突升级。

4 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

5 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

6 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

7 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。

8 aisle   

n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道

参考例句：

• The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。
• The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。

9 pundits   

n.某一学科的权威，专家( pundit的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The pundits disagree on the best way of dealing with the problem. 如何妥善处理这一问题，专家众说纷纭。 来自辞典例句
• That did not stop Chinese pundits from making a fuss over it. 这并没有阻止中国的博学之士对此大惊小怪。 来自互联网

10 stump   

n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走

参考例句：

• He went on the stump in his home state.他到故乡所在的州去发表演说。
• He used the stump as a table.他把树桩用作桌子。

11 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

12 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

13 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。