No Chinese whispers: US and China should be equal

Both the US and China will have to make big compromises if they are to see one another as equals, Hugh White writes in East Asia Forum . Although he's confident that Asia's present regional order and institutions will keep Asia peaceful and harmonious as China's power grows, Amitav Acharya does acknowledge that adjustments will be needed. The question, then, is what kind of adjustments are required? I have argued that the key change needed to preserve Asia's peace and stability over the next few decades is a shift from an order based on US primacy to one that is based on a relationship of equality between the region's great powers. The reason is simple: as its power grows, China will no longer be satisfied with a regional order based on what China sees as its political and strategic subordination to the US. That dissatisfaction will be expressed - is already being expressed - by a determined attempt to change the order which is already undermining regional stability. On the other hand, none of the other countries in Asia will be satisfied with a regional order based on Chinese primacy. So the only order that will offer stability is one in which both the US and China agree to deal with one another as equals.