Can China Crash U.S. Pivot Party? ...
A good start would be for China to rebuild goodwill with its neighbors by showing some flexibility over regional disputes. Above all, China would do well to consider a multilateral framework to resolve the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. With significant natural resources and fishing rights at stake, every nation in the region has an interest in resolving such issues peacefully. China would be much better served by rethinking its expansive claims and committing to a peaceful negotiated settlement to all outstanding issues. China could also strongly suggest, via diplomatic channels that extend beyond current measures in place, that claimant nations do more to explore the joint development of important natural resources in disputed areas. Some progress has been made here, but all claimants deserve to know how much potential wealth there is beneath the sea, and how much it would cost to develop such resources. A carefully crafted and clear strategy could win China key allies in the region.
Um, the point of our pivot isn't to fight China but to keep China from resorting to force to resolve territorial disputes. If China preempts our pivot to Asia by pledging to resolve all those disputes diplomatically, I'd say that's great--for China, China's neighbors, and America.
So please, China, by all means "crash" our pivot party.
