China and the United States should be less ambiguous in defining their strategic positions in the Asia-Pacific region, according to Richard Bitzinger, a senior fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).

Bitzinger, a panellist at the Asia Pacific Security Conference (APSEC) in Singapore on 10 February, sees a “need for greater clarity” from China as it becomes a great power and from the United States in defining its ‘pivot’ or ‘rebalance’ to the Asia Pacific.