Come back onto fair track

US Secretary of State John Kerry will find himself more than welcome in Beijing if he is here to convey Washington's commitment to a positive relationship, as the US Department of State put it.

Beijing and Washington need to compare notes on their rhetoric about a "new type of major-country relationship", and explore ways to navigate the so-called "Thucydides' trap". For the well-being of both countries and the world at large, their relationship has to be positive.

He will also be welcome if he has feasible suggestions "for reducing the regional acrimony over competing claims in the East and South China seas". Beijing, too, is concerned about the hazardous potentials of such flashpoints and seeks crisis prevention.