US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter rejected zero-sum thinking in China-US relations as he kicked off a weeklong trip to Asia to maintain ties with traditional allies in the region.

En route to Asia, the Pentagon chief stopped at Arizona State University in Phoenix, Arizona, on Tuesday, where he said he rejects the old zero-sum thinking under which any gain by China represents a loss to the US, and vice versa. There is another scenario in which everyone wins, he said.

The trip will take him to Japan and South Korea.