Source: Phoenix TV

As a rising power, China has a central role to play in resolving critical global challenges. During an interview with Phoenix Television, Carnegie–Tsinghua’s Paul Haenle shared his perspective on how the U.S.-China bilateral relationship is instrumental to resolving points of tension in the Asia-Pacific. He emphasized that China and the United States both have economic and security interests in Asia and have a stake in the region’s growth and prosperity.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s more active foreign policy, coupled with China’s continued economic growth, has contributed to China’s increase in global influence, Haenle said. He made the case that if China wants to be recognized as a global power, it should lend its own ideas to solve global challenges. In particular, he mentioned the ongoing issues with North Korea’s nuclear program and security interests in Afghanistan as common ground for the United States and China to start engaging in Xi's concept of a new type of great-power relations. Elaborating further on security interests in the Asia-Pacific, Haenle explained that China and Japan must maintain open lines of communication on multiple levels in order to avoid a military clash in the South China Sea.