By Hua Yisheng
The U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry recently kicked off his first Asian trip in 2016.Western media, keeping a close eye on Kerry’s agenda, believe the South China Sea issuewill be one of the priorities during the trip taking him to Laos, Cambodia and China.
Their concerns were not raised out of nowhere. At the Davos World Economic Forum notlong ago, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter, claimed that Beijing is taking “self-isolating” steps in the South China Sea. He even urged other countries to seek help fromthe U.S.
As for Kerry’s itinerary this time, comments from Reuters and other media suggest thatthe U.S. will urge ASEAN countries to contain China together.
A U.S. official even told the press that the ASEAN hopes to avoid “militarization” andconflicts by “safeguarding maritime rights and interests”.
Repeated voices from the U.S. are by no means unintentional. It is clearly motivated bythree objectives.
First of all, the U.S. attempts to interfere in China’s legitimate construction activities onthe Nansha Islands.
In order to force China to halt construction, the U.S., ignoring China’s sovereignty over theSouth China Sea, has made multiple groundless criticisms, and even accused China of“militarizing” the region.
Secondly, with the groundless excuse that China will “bully” small countries, the U.S. triedto undermine China’s efforts to settle disputes through negotiations with the partiesdirectly concerned.
In the meantime, the superpower has been stirring up the arena of the South China Sea. Itinstigated ASEAN countries to increase tensions by taking advantage of their concerns.
On the one hand, the U.S. adds pressure on China on the issue by urging other ASEANmembers to support the Philippines’ territorial appeal. It helped the Philippines file aunilateral arbitration in the name of safeguarding international law.
The U.S., therefore, has become a backstage driving force for escalating tensions in theSouth China Sea.
Lastly, such acts by the U.S. aim to pave a way for demonstration of its military power.
Last October, the U.S. sent a military vessel to enter into waters near China’s NanshaIslands in spite of China’s opposition, and announced to “regularly” conduct such activitieson the grounds of safeguarding freedom of navigation.
Realizing the freedom is not jeopardized, the U.S. has to justify its behaviors by hyping upso called “China threats”.
Encouraging ASEAN to patrol the sea is just another attempt to normalize its actionsthrough numerical strength.
The “diligent work” of the U.S., however, did not work as it expected.
The U.S. cannot deny the historical and lawful evidence that proves China’s sovereigntyinterests over the South China Sea, neither can it stop China’s construction on the islands.
Its provocations will only further prove it is the U.S. that threatens regional stability andpushes forward the dangerous “militarization”.
Most ASEAN members are clear-headed when it comes to the South China Sea issue, andwill not endorse the Philippines without any principles.
Despite incitement from the U.S., Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and ForeignMinister Hor Namhong said that individual countries should settle disputes amongthemselves without the involvement of the ASEAN.
China also said previously that U.S. officials cannot speak for ASEAN countries.
As for patrolling the South China Sea, the ASEAN will not stand beside the U.S. since itfears that the Eagle’s actions will trigger military conflicts.
The ASEAN is also unwilling to get involved in the issue, let alone conduct patrolsrecklessly.
China has always advised the U.S. with kind words, hoping it can focus more on the bigpicture of bilateral ties
Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that the enhanced China-U.S. cooperation willbring enormous benefits to the world during his meeting with Kerry on Wednesday, as hehad stressed on many occasions.
Both countries agree to build a new type of major-country relations under the principles ofpeace, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. The South China Sea issue should not beused as excuse to undermine China-U.S. relations.
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