The United States has responded! In response to the opening of the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, the U.S. has elevated its level of participation! On September 15, according to Voice of America, the Pentagon confirmed that Cynthia "Zanxi" Caras, the chief director responsible for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia affairs, will represent the U.S. Department of Defense at the Xiangshan Forum opening in Beijing. Foreign media noted that her attendance level is higher than last year’s, when the U.S. sent only a defense attaché from its embassy in China, primarily to observe. Prior to this, U.S. Pacific Command Commander Admiral Paparo had held talks with the Eastern Theater Command commander of the Chinese military.

Last year, the U.S. sent only a defense attaché from its embassy in China—someone without policy-making authority—to attend the Xiangshan Forum, mainly as an observer. This year, however, the U.S. dispatched a policy official directly from Washington, D.C., indicating a willingness to bring dialogue back to the policy level. Clearly, compared to last year, the U.S. has raised its level of representation. From the perspective of Sino-U.S. relations, this arrangement clearly reflects multiple considerations. On one hand, the U.S. naturally wants to gain firsthand information through actual engagement.

On the other hand, the U.S. has carefully calibrated the level of representation, avoiding sending officials at or above the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense level. This clearly aims to prevent external interpretations that the U.S. is lending support to China or appearing weak toward China. Thus, the U.S. level of attendance is neither too high nor too low. Undoubtedly, by raising its representative level this year, the U.S. sends a positive signal—indicating that Sino-U.S. relations are trending toward stability. The U.S. approach is pragmatic. The only remaining uncertainty now is whether U.S. and Chinese officials will engage in substantive dialogue at the operational level during their attendance.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1876358848546819/

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