Letters
The complexity of Sino-US ties
US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's tour to Liaoning, China's sole aircraft carrier, made headlines recently. Many people have demanded to know why exactly Hagel visited or China invited him to visit Liaoning. Was it to increase trust between the two countries? Or, was it to show China's openness?
Most major media outlets in the US see the "pivot to Asia" policy as an effort by Washington to counter Beijing's influence in Asia. It is apparent that the US has lost some of its aura and power during the global financial crisis. In November 2011, the US signed a free trade agreement with the Republic of Korea. And with the development of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Asia quickly became vital for the US' future economic prosperity.
