US actions harming global strategic stability

Editor's Note: China and Russia issued a joint statement last week vowing to strengthen global strategic stability. What prompted the two countries to issue such a statement? Is Washington's withdrawal from several arms control agreements good for the security of the US and the world? And what role will technology play in a future arms race? Two experts share their views on the issue with China Daily's Pan Yixuan. Excerpts follow:

US disrespects global and multilateral mechanisms

China and Russia issued the joint statement to not only promote their comprehensive partnership in the new era by taking constructive actions but also to address the problems created by the United States' unilateral moves which are threatening the global arms control system.

The US has set a trend of withdrawing from multilateral mechanisms, in order to promote its "America first" agenda and continue to be the leading economic and military power in the world. But by so doing, the US is destabilizing the international strategic balance, because multilateral cooperation and agreements are vital to safeguard global security.

To fulfill its selfish military and strategic goals, the US is employing extreme policies to take advantage of other countries. But such moves aimed at strengthening its security and retaining its global leadership could backfire on the US.

Washington has been severely criticized for acting irresponsibly in pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal, and re-imposing sanctions on Teheran and threatening it by strengthening its military presence in the Middle East. Even some European NATO member states, which are traditional US allies, have protested against the US demand that they increase their military spending. Also, the White House's "America first" agenda has grossly complicated the denuclearization process of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The US has been hiking its defense budget every year so as to maintain its global hegemony, but such annual hikes could become a burden for it in the future. Besides, by simultaneously pressuring Russia and China in the hope of garnering the support of one against the other, the US, in fact, has brought Beijing and Moscow closer.

The US seeks to lead the field not only in traditional security but also space development. This has made China and Russia feel insecure and prompted them to work together to strengthen global strategic security, which in turn could trigger an arms race.

Yet China and Russia have vowed to adhere to peaceful military development and follow a defensive defense policy to counterbalance the US' unilateral moves and safeguard global security.

Chen Xiangyang, executive director and researcher at the Institute of World Political Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations

Washington has made the global security order fragile

Beijing and Moscow issued the joint statement in response to Washington's unilateral strategic and military moves. The US has withdrawn from several multilateral mechanisms, believing its actions will help insulate it from external security threats.

But that does not mean the US will isolate itself from the rest of the world. Washington is breaking established international rules in order to make new ones, in the hope they will help it to fulfill its "America first" agenda and browbeat Russia and China.

For example, the US has withdrawn from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty it signed with the Soviet Union in 1987 so it can expand its nuclear arsenal and intimidate Russia and force China to become a party to a new nuclear control pact.

To maintain its superpower status, the US is trying to boost its cyber technology sector, and expedite its polar development strategy and space militarization. Thanks to its achievements in the traditional and non-traditional security fields, the US has not only become a global leader but also a threat to global security. Take space development for example. Washington's decision to build the US Space Force poses a threat to other countries and could lead to the militarization of space.

The US' actions may not have destroyed the global security order, but they have certainly made it fragile.

Li Daguang, a researcher at the National Defense University of the People's Liberation Army

The views don't necessarily represent that of China Daily.