Balance of powers in Asia is inevitable

• Source: Global Times
• [23:19 November 04 2009]
• Comments

To understand others' desire for China's power to be balanced, we need to realize that it is just like how China sometimes needs to balance the power of certain other countries. In fact, it is not necessarily a bad thing.

China needs to learn to survive and develop within restrictions, instead of considering all balancing actions involving great powers as intrigues against it. Other countries have their own di. culties, especially smaller nations.

For example, Mongolia's total trade with China accounts for nearly half of its total foreign trade – 45.72 percent in 2008 according to the National Statistics O. ce of Mongolia – and the proportion is still increasing.

If all its national imports and exports rely on China, how can it stay unworried?

Therefore, if Mongolia engages in its "third neighbor" diplomatic strategy to balance out China's infl uence, it is not worth fussing about.

For us to get along with other Asian countries in the future, we have to understand their concerns. The Chinese people should also have patience. China is not strong and popular enough to make other countries neglect the US.

Even if in the future China enhances mutual trust with other Asia-Pacifi c countries through continuous e. orts, a balance of power may still be necessary.

For the gradual development of a multipolar world, the best solution is to keep this balance. China needs to learn to adapt to this reality in order to be a responsible major power.

The author is a senior editor with the People's Daily