While the whole world is busy eulogizing the peace brought by the victory of World War II (WWII) 70 years ago, Uncle Sam played out a disturbingly hoarse dissonance Saturday by launching a spiteful attack on China's peace-oriented military development.
In its annual report to the Congress on the state of China's military, the Pentagon pointed an accusing finger at China for its legitimate land reclamation in South China Sea, hyping the China threat theory in cyber and space programs.
As predicted, the document is preoccupied with deliberate ignorance of Beijing's constant well-meant initiatives in enhancing military dialogue with Washington, advancing peace with regional partners, and transparentizing its military status to the world.
Under such logic, the report brims with hackneyed irrational assaults and deliberate exaggeration of China's military buildup, which Beijing has repeatedly reaffirmed is of defensive in nature.
Moreover, the yearly paper, in a blatant attempt to drive wedges between China and other Asian nations, contradicts U.S. pledge to not take side in South China Sea disputes.
It thus serves as nothing but a mirror of Washington's growing paranoia about China's booming interactions with other countries, and the intuitive anxiety that its hegemony might be undermined.
Uncle Sam, which seems as arrogant as ever, should be reminded that it has as always been the world's No.1 military power and culprit of cyber attacks and wiretapping.
High on flexing muscles, it has constructed military bases worldwide, pushed the military budget to the gaping 612 billion U.S. dollars in 2014, and staged intimidating drills with allies to dwarf countries it takes as eyesores.
These efforts have proved nothing but counterproductive, emboldening some of U.S. trouble-making allies, triggering frequent regional tensions and incurring widespread doubt of Washington's real intent behind the "Pivot to Asia" strategy.
If it really means to advance bilateral relations and mutual trust with China, as repeated by President Barack Obama, Washington should know that it is high time to cut off those futile attempts to interfere in China's internal affairs or to sow discord between China and other claimants in South China Sea.
Also, as far as military transparency is concerned, Washington should make at least equal efforts with China's in clarifying the skyrocketing military budget, which has been multiplied ever since Obama announced the "Pivot to Asia" plan.
Amidst the global celebration of the end of WWII, a more sensible choice for Obama is to emulate the wisdom of the Roosevelt administration, which encouraged China to take a bigger role in the regional and world security undertakings.
Upon the 70th anniversary of the victory of a war in which China and the United States fought shoulder to shoulder for a noble cause, it is highly advisable that Obama send a clear message with real actions that he will honor and carry on that spirit.
