U.S. Army Col. (ret.) William Braun, a research professor at the Army War College’s Strategic Institute, has discussed steps he says could help avoid conflict between the U.S. and China over territorial claims.
Braun said at a panel discussion that the Army and national strategy policymakers must try to understand China’s role as a co-power in the region and prevent U.S. allies from compromising partnerships with China, the Army said Tuesday.
He said during the event at the National Press Club in Washington that a strategy based on an old Chinese game called “Go” can help resolve what he describes as a tense U.S.-China relationship.
He noted that the U.S. and its partner nations in Southeast Asia need to find a way to negotiate in the “gray zone” — such as one found in the Go game — so that China could rise to power without involving force.
Braun also proposed that the partner nations share the cost of regional defense and lead military training and preparedness in order to reduce tension with China, the Army said.
He also urged the U.S. to conduct military-to-military engagements with China to resolve conflict.
Braun led a nine-month study on his proposed strategy at USAWC.
