An agreement to let China play a bigger role on the world stage would round out this strategy. They should play a role in a concert of power, perhaps a reformed U.N., with the U.S. Russia, India, European Union, and United Kingdom. Each power would meet on security issues in its hemisphere and agree not to fight.
In time, the PRC could mellow out, or perhaps evolve into a democratic republic, and the state could be even more integrated into an international system. Maybe China could join the Quadrilateral Security Dialog, and the U.S. could leave or maybe just serve in an advisory capacity. The alternative would be endless power balancing and defense buildups in decade after decade. Our country will decide its own fate.
Jason Sibert is Executive Director of the Peace Economy Project.
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