Fan Changlong, vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, met with US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter in Washington on Thursday. During the talk, both sides uttered what others might consider "tough" words. In the meantime, they showed they shared wider perspectives, giving people hope that Sino-US relations can transcend frictions over the South China Sea.

 "The South China Sea issue is but an interlude in Sino-US relations," Fan said.

Some speculated that the two military leaders might confront during the meeting, drawing a red line with a threatening tone. But instead, the two sides sought a better understanding with each other through dialogue, and reined in mistrust.

"Fan's visit gave both countries a chance to cool down and rethink the situation, which boosted confidence for both countries' political and military elites to manage the differences," Li Haidong, a professor with the Institute of International Relations at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.

The world has been paying great attention to the US involvement in the South China Sea as well as China's reaction. But many observers believe Washington cannot do anything about China's construction work on the islands and reefs in this area. Few are expecting China to challenge the US after finishing the construction. The South China Sea is a hot spot of the strategic mistrust between China and the US, but it will not be the site of a showdown.

The US asked China to stop land reclamation in the South China Sea, which China rejected. More and more strategists believe this difference is not big enough for military confrontation between the two countries. Sino-US ties are too important for both sides. Full-scale hostility is strategically unimaginable and the territorial problems on the South China Sea do not involve the core interests of the US.

Some have said China's moves in the South China Sea have challenged the US dominance in this region, and demanded the US take a dominant role in Asia. This is actually a covert effort to hurt the US.

It is impossible for the US to have every say at China's doorstep. Even in Vietnam or the Korean Peninsula decades ago, the US was not able to do whatever it wanted.

We believe Washington is not as ambitious as some have hoped in dominating Asia and confronting China. China has no intent to become another hegemon in Asia either.

It will take time for China to demonstrate the constructive nature of its works in the South China Sea. The US should show some patience in observing this. Hopefully, the South China Sea issue is indeed only an interlude in the process of both sides building mutual trust.