Counter-terrorism cooperation based on internationally-recognized standards
International terrorism has spread rapidly since the beginning of the 21st century. According to a U.S. report, the number of terrorist attacks in 2013 was up 43 percent from 2012, affecting 100 countries and killing 11,000 people. Against this background, China and the U.S. have a lot of room to work with each other. China opposes all forms of terrorism, and is willing to increase exchanges and cooperation with the U.S. and the international community based on the principles of mutual trust and equal cooperation. China believes international cooperation against terrorism should involve the United Nations and its Security Council, should abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and should respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of relevant countries.
Also, the fight against terrorism should focus on both the symptoms and the root causes, and avoid double standards or targeting of specific ethnic groups. In May, President Xi said China would fight terrorism on both domestic and international levels, and further enhance cooperation with the international community. China’s strategy is based on its own terrorism risks and is in line with the mainstream international trends.
In November, President Obama said in an interview with Xinhua prior to his visit to China that the U.S. opposed terrorism in all its forms and was willing to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation with China on fighting the Islamic State in the Middle East and other issues.
Referring to acts of terror in Kunming and Urumqi, Obama said he was appalled and extended the deepest condolences and the sympathies of the U.S. people to the victims and their families.
Xi and Obama jointly denounced all forms of terrorism and pledged to fight terrorism together by following the Charter of the United Nations and fundamental principles in international relations and implementing relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, by helping relevant countries to maintain economic and social stability, and by enhancing counter-terrorism capabilities and improving cooperation in intelligence-sharing, border control, financial cooperation among other measures. The two presidents agreed that China's Ministry of Public Security and the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security would hold a minister-level meeting early 2015 to discuss improving counter-terrorism and law-enforcement cooperation.
As important pillars in the international fight against terrorism, the two militaries have much to gain by improving intelligence-sharing, technical coordination and operational cooperation within the UN framework, fighting all forms of regional and international terrorism together and contributing to world peace and stability. It is in the fundamental interest of both countries, and the hope of all peoples, as well as a major international trend to emphasize peace, development and cooperation.
Expanding exchanges
The international order is seeing significant changes and world security is still vulnerable to risks and challenges. Enhancing trust between the two armed forces will help deal with these risks and challenges by expanding mutually beneficial cooperation and constructively managing their differences. History tells that cooperation can lead to big successes, which bodes well for the two countries and the world, and that conflict would be disastrous. Military relations are a weathervane of Sino-U.S. relations.
As China and the U.S. commit to build a new type of major-country relationship, the military relationship must not hold them back. It is also the demand of the world, in which China and U.S. are major powers. In the last two years, the two armed forces have progressed significantly in high level exchanges, negotiations, joint training and drills. They include Chang Wanquan, China’s Minister of Defense and a State Councilor, visiting the U.S., Chuck Hagel, the Secretary of Defense, visiting China, the first China-U.S. Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief troop exercises in Hawaii and the Rim of the Pacific 2014 multinational maritime drill.
During the APEC meeting in Beijing, Xi and Obama praised the two armed forces’ progress at all levels in exchanges, dialogue and negotiations, joint training and drills. The two sides agreed to deepen military ties, enhance mutual trust, promote cooperation, manage differences, prevent risks, and work together to push forward the new type of military relationship.
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