US-China split would create a 'dangerous world,' warns expert

Asian countries seen as stranded between the two economic powers

From left: Park Myung-lim, professor at South Korea's Yonsei University; Jia Qinqquo, professor at Peking University's School of International Studies; Daniel Twining, president of the International Republican Institute; and Akihiko Tanaka, president of Japan's National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, discuss the U.S.-China conflict. (Photo by Yuki Nakao)

MITSURU OBE, RURIKA IMAHASHI and CK TAN, Nikkei staff writers

May 30, 2019 21:16 JST

TOKYO -- The U.S. would face dire consequences if it decides to decouple itself from China over an ongoing trade and technology dispute, said a Chinese expert at a panel discussion hosted here Thursday by Nikkei's annual Future of Asia conference.

"If the current U.S. approach has the implication of depriving China of any stake in the international order, that means that China will become outside the international order with no stake," said Jia Qingguo, Professor at Peking University. "Just imagine what's going to happen. It's going to be a very dangerous world." he added. "I would counsel caution on this."