The “Snowden Incident” has harmed United States standing in the international community in three ways: weakened US soft power, complicated game theory among the world’s four leading powers, and proved the danger of web-based non-state entities.

Li Shaoxian weighs the risks and potential consequences of a US military strike on Syria, concluding that once there is military intervention the hope for reconciliation will become slimmer.

China is highly concerned about the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria, and supports the UN Secretariat in carrying out an independent, objective, impartial and professional investigation, writes Wu Sike.

How can China and the United States make progress on cybersecurity? Graham Webster explains that until competing views of the Internet – as a source of freedom-promotion in the U.S. and a sovereign autonomy in China are understood – neither side will see real progress on cybersecurity.

Examining recent developments in the Asia-Pacific Stephen Harner posits that the true source of instability in East Asia is a result of the post-WWII alliance between the U.S. and Japan, rather than efforts to expand Japan’s constitution and enlarge its maritime presence.

After recently conducting counter-piracy exercises in the Gulf of Aden, increased naval cooperation between the United States and China appears to be on a positive tract. As Su Xiaohui explains, China’s aspiration to become a maritime power should not be perceived as a threat to the United States.

Recently, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace released a report that studies the future of China’s military and the U.S.-Japan alliance through 2030. In response, Justin Logan argues that while it is difficult to predict the security scenario of East Asia in 2030, this report should serve as a call to better understand the China and the US-Japan relationship.

The four-day visit by the Chinese Defense Minster to the United States was another strong example of the growing ties between the US and China. The visit, which focused on future military-to-military ties, established further planning for exercises and communications in the coming year, and was deemed positive by both sides.

Identifying six legitimate maritime interests for China in the South China Sea, Shen Dingli explains how China perceives its current territorial disputes and offers recommendations for easing tensions in the region.

The implementation of the United States’ pivot to Asia continues to ratchet up tensions between the US and China. In order to avoid a destabilizing arms race and facilitate crisis management, David Gompert and Terrence Kelly provide two solutions.