US should see big picture

It is more than obvious that neither President Xi Jinping, nor his visitor, US Vice-President Joe Biden, could easily sell to the other their respective country's ideas about the well-hyped East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone despite their personal rapport.

That Xi and Biden managed to keep their differences over the ADIZ out of the spotlight on Wednesday - there was no mention of it when the two spoke to reporters - was a sign that Beijing and Washington understand the significance of maintaining what Biden called "high-level engagement", and are indeed capable of managing their occasionally volatile ties.

As Biden told his Chinese counterpart Vice-President Li Yuanchao, relations continue to mature.