Trust deficit still plagues US-China relationship

CHINESE sayings are hot these days. The US Supreme Court, in its ruling on same-sex marriage, cited Confucius. And at the opening of the US-China strategic and economic dialogue last Tuesday, speakers from both sides quoted Chinese proverbs, showing that they at least had something in common.

Vice-President Joe Biden said that China and the US together need to shape evolving rules "ranging from cyberspace to outer space", giving China a voice equal to that of the US. But he was also critical of China, without naming the country, especially in the area of cyber security, saying that "nations that use cyber technology as an economic weapon or profits from the theft of intellectual property are sacrificing tomorrow's gains for short-term gains today. They diminish the innovative drive and determination of their own people."

The American side also made it clear that China's construction and militarisation of artificial islands in the South China Sea remained a major issue. Secretary of State John Kerry accepted that such issues were not going to be resolved quickly, but he said: "We do not accept that a narrowing of the differences is beyond our reach."