Supporting Abe ending pacifism will ultimately bite US

There is an old Chinese saying that describes those who would drink poison when extremely thirsty. That's exactly what the United States is doing by encouraging Shinzo Abe to castrate Japan's pacifist constitution -- a move which will not only threaten China, but also cost America dearly.

Eager to protect the US strategic interests and preserve its dominant role in the Asia-Pacific, Washington made an imprudent choice to back the Abe administration's decision to reinterpret Japan's constitution and allow it to initiate overseas military operations.

It is important for the Unite States to see clearly that nationalist Prime Minister Abe and right-wing forces in Japan are much more ambitious, with the empowering of "collective self-defense right" as their first step.

More provocative moves by Japan could be expected in the Asia-Pacific region, which would gradually drag the United States deeper into Tokyo's disputes with its Asian neighbors, or, in a worst scenario, even into an unnecessary war instigated or started by Japan.

Washington may think that Japan can never be a real threat to it or to the region, just like it reckoned then militaristic Japan, with its disadvantageous military prowess, would not dare to provoke the United States during WWII.

Unfortunately, the Japanese blitz attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 was not an accidental and isolated incident. It was indeed an inevitable and typical choice of Japan's right-wing nationalists, with a radical, opportunistic, ruleless and immoral mindset, who were regaining forces in the country and trying to revive its past militarism.

The US backing for Tokyo's move, which heightens tension and increases instability in the region, is likely to take a toll on the mutual trust between Beijing and Washington deemed indispensable for their cooperative and mutually beneficial ties.

A new-type of major-country relationship the two countries are trying to nurture bears a unique significance in safeguarding peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific.

Instead of taking on unpredictable risk for Abe's right-tilting Japan, Washington's strategic interests would be better served by cultivating constructive and cooperative ties with China.

The sixth China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue, to be held in Beijing on Wednesday and Thursday, has been a key platform for the world's two largest economies to strengthen communication, cooperation and exchanges, and offers an opportunity for the United States to sincerely improve ties with China, building mutual trust and properly address eath other's concerns.

It is high time that the United States clarify its stances on China-related issues and take practical actions to prove that it is a constructive participant in the Asia-Pacific region.