Arguing that neighbours mattered for "China's economic strength and military might," a Chinese analyst called Tuesday for regional alliances to "defuse international hegemonism by the United States."
Writing in the official China Daily, Yan Xuetong of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations said, "regional alliances can rival US power and cut into its influence."
His comments come amid persisting anti-US sentiments in China whipped up after the NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade on May 7 last year. Washington has blamed the bombing on outdated maps, an excuse dismissed as inadequate by Beijing.
China also has continuing concerns over pro-Taiwan sentiment in the United States — which has been strengthening amid sabre-rattling by Beijing ahead of presidential elections in the island — and US security tie-ups with Japan.
Yan made no mention of the Taiwan issue however but had harsh words for Japan: After the end of the Cold War, he said, "Japan, which viewed China as its primary potential foe, adopted a pro-US strategy it thought could 'tame' China."
China has voiced strong opposition to a proposed US national missile defense plan and a joint US-Japan theater missile defense proposal in East Asia.
"Not all neighbouring nations are friends China can trust," Yan said. "But they do not threaten China's security."
Fostering ties with South-east Asia should be Beijing's priority, as its "national interest cannot be separated economically, militarily or politically from the interests of other Asian countries," he said.
Asian partners account for 56 percent of China's trade and if a war broke out in East Asia, China would feel the heat, he pointed out.
"East Asia should fall in Europe's footsteps and quickly regionalize its economy," Yan said. "If regionalisation in East Asia can expand to South Asia and the Mideast, Asia will become a stronger world presence."
He cited yet another element that could help bond China with its neighbours: "cultural similarity plus shared views on human rights and national sovereignty."
Good neighbours were also a key element in fighting separatism within China, Yan noted, without mentioning the restive Tibet and Xinjiang regions. "If separatists abroad get no support from China's neighbours, they will become frustrated and fail," he said.
"And China-based separatists without international endorsement are not worth worrying about."
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