The United States' move to bolster its strategic presence in the Asia-Pacific region to contain China's rise and Beijing's response to it will define the security environment in the region in 2013. If Washington is expected to continue exploiting maritime disputes in Asia-Pacific to strengthen its security ties with its allies in the region, China is likely to be more determined to safeguard its maritime territories and sovereignty and resolve the islands disputes in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.

The US rebalancing in Asia-Pacific, irrespective of whether it succeeds or not, will create security uncertainties in China's neighborhood. It is too early to say whether John Kerry, who succeeds Hillary Clinton as the US secretary of state, will bring in the astute diplomacy of his predecessor to push forward Washington's "return to Asia" strategy. Also, it is uncertain whether the US, with fiscal budget cuts, can strengthen its military presence and hold more large-scale military drills in the Asia-Pacific.

But come what may, China has to work on three fronts in 2013. First, China has to prepare for a new period of Sino-US relations, especially because its foreign policy will need time to adjust after the leadership transition.