Letters | US-China cooperation vital for stability in Southeast Asia and beyond

Readers discuss the positive momentum in bilateral relations following the Xi-Biden summit, protection against the winter flu season, district council election turnout and taxi drivers’ woes

Reading Time:4 minutes

US President Joe Biden greets Chinese President Xi Jinping before a meeting in Woodside, California, on November 15. Photo: AFP / Getty Images / TNS

Published: 11:30am, 12 Dec 2023

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I refer to the article, “China confirms it is working with US to restore military communication channels based on Xi-Biden agreement” (November 30).

As the tumultuous currents of the global landscape call for diplomatic breakthroughs, the summit last month between President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden in San Francisco is emerging as a beacon of hope. Detente and collaboration between China and the United States is vital for global stability and economic recovery.

For someone residing in the Philippines, where historical ties with China and a colonial past with the US intersect, the prospect of cooperation and reduced animosity between these superpowers is of paramount importance. It is a key factor in the Philippines’ ability to foster a truly independent foreign policy, emulating the non-aligned stance of countries like Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, which navigate territorial disputes without aligning militarily with major powers.

In an interconnected global economy, collaboration between the world’s two largest economies is indispensable for economic stability. Ending trade wars can catalyse a more robust global economic recovery.

China’s enduring cultural history, shaped by Confucian and Taoist values emphasising harmony, instils confidence in its peaceful rise. This mindset aligns with modern China’s foreign policy of fostering collaboration for the greater good.