Once neglected by the international community, Central America has increasingly gained importance as a transit hub. As the United States and China search for faster, more cost effective ways to transport goods, the area is seeing an influx in canal development. As Fernando Menéndez explains, the development and expansion in this region will have a large impact on international trade.

The dispute over territory in the South China Sea has become a flashpoint for Asian regional politics. China’s policy has used both big and small-stick diplomacy to assert its claim to the region. In doing so, it has formed a new normality for the region.

Critiquing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s interview in Foreign Affairs, Liu Jiangyong dissects the differences between Japan’s Yasukuni Shrine, embroiled in controversy over its militaristic history, and the United States’ Arlington National Cemetery.

At the heart of China’s request for a new type of big power relationship with the US is a demand for greater symmetry in bilateral negotiations, writes Pang Zhongying. Only a roughly symmetrical relationship can be stable.

Are we one of the blind men when we try to explain China? We see only part of it but claim that to be the truth about China. The field of China studies needs revisions to meet challenges to understanding such a large and fast-changing country, especially in the following three aspects: reliance on trans-Atlantic thought to analyze China; failure to update with changes; and lack of integration.

With a new type of bilateral relationship, China and the US should achieve trust in politics, economic complementarity, cultural exchange, military interaction and diplomatic consultation, writes Yu Sui.

The Xi-Obama Sunnylands summit came at a crucial time in the bilateral relationship. The weekend meeting, which featured a variety of discussions including a new great-power relationship and increasing mutual trust, was seen as a step in the right direction for Sino-US relations.

As a rising power, China must face growing frictions. To peacefully progress, Zhang Tuosheng explains, China must do three things. First, it must utilize the effective policies since “reform and opening up.” Next, it must seek to redefine the “great power structure” of the world on multiple levels. Finally, it must build its means to manage crises.

Existing problems in the Sino-US relationship should not be considered as barriers for building a new type of Sino-U.S. relations, but should be taken as the driving power, says Chen Jimin.

Latin America has reemerged as one of the most significant regions in global affairs, as nearly simultaneous visits by US and Chinese leaders have proven. Niu Haibin explains that as the region becomes a common foreign policy priority, cooperation and a clear understanding of each country’s interests will allow for renewed development and a positive future.