An editorial in the U.S. magazine The National Interest says the United States should not oppose China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative nor fear China's engagement in Eurasia as it improves global stability.
China's push towards the West "is an attractive focal point -- as it avoids the tensions of East Asia" and can "serve as a tool for development, and can assist in enhancing security in a region where it is needed," said Jeffrey Payne in an editorial published Thursday.
"Chinese adventures in Eurasia also facilitate the United States' interests in Asia," Payne said.
The writer criticized the United States' muted response to the "One Belt, One Road" initiative, saying that the benefits of the plan are offset by fears of China's increasing presence throughout Eurasia.
"Such fears should be pushed aside," Payne said, as the United States' own experiences "reveal Eurasia to be a region of shifting political forces that are never easy to predict and virtually impossible to control."
"China is naturally positioned to exert influence in Central and South Asia as those regions remain sources of global instability," he said.
The writer pointed out that it is unwise for the United States to oppose China's initiatives, which can contribute to global stability, as "the future of the United States is tied to the trajectory of the Asia-Pacific."
"China's rise towards becoming a major power has largely already occurred and opposing all Chinese initiatives will only contribute to greater bilateral hostility," Payne said.
