While the legislation is used as a policy tool by the US and occasionally even China, its strategy has been overtaken by events. The act is out of date, impractical and prevents bilateral relations from developing on an even footing with more mutual trust.

The new Pentagon strategy is a throw-back to Cold War thinking and contrary to the world view of America’s founding fathers. It may pose a new barrier to developing new major-power relations in a multi-polar world, unless all sides seek a cooperative approach.

The latest U.S. National Military Strategy has provoked a strong but misguided reaction in Beijing. U.S. policy makers are not forecasting an inevitable a war with China and identify areas where the two countries’ national security interests overlap sufficiently for bilateral collaboration.

The Cold War ended but there followed the interventions in Southeast Europe, continuing wars in Iraq, campaigns in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Liby

How can United States’ allies have confidence in its security commitments, while it is in decline? One way is to constantly stress that it has the ability and willingness to fulfill its obligations, writes Chen Jimin.