Neighbors threaten China's peace
Updated: 2011-07-16 10:09
By Wang Hui (chinadaily.com.cn)
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The answers to both questions are negative.
On the one hand, the island country's military muscle is no match for China's. On the other hand, Manila enjoys surplus in its trade with Beijing. Bilateral trade volume has a chance to reach $30 billion this year. A full-blown conflict with Beijing over maritime territory dispute would easily squander the rosy prospect of bilateral trade. This apparently is not in the interests of Manila.
It is believed Rosario's China visit is paving the way for Philippine President Benigno Aquino's visit to China, which is likely to take place in late August or early September. Aquino needs to take concrete moves before Beijing can be convinced of his country's sincerity in solving the disputes peacefully.
The South China Sea disputes did not break out until the late 1970s, when the waters of 3.5 million sq km were believed to have vast deposits of oil and natural gas. Since then, countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam have competed with one another to seize isles and reefs and illegally tap the resources. Today, not one of the oil wells in the disputed waters belongs to China. Instead, Chinese fishermen legally operating on Chinese maritime territory have been harassed from time to time by the Philippines and Vietnam.
As a country holding historical proof of its sovereignty over the waters, China has so far exercised utmost restraint. It does not lack the means and resources to act more assertively in defense of territorial integrity. As a responsible country, it always opts for peaceful solutions to settle disputes with its neighbors.
However, some countries in the region have taken advantage of China's restraint. To grab more benefits from the South China Sea, they have instigated the latest outbreak of disputes and vilified China as a bully in the international community.
The US strategy to seek a bigger role in the region has obviously fueled those countries' ambitions. One day before Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Beijing for a four-day visit, the US, Japan and Australia held naval drills in the South China Sea. The first of its kind since 2007, the show of force by the three outside forces clearly aims to contain China.
The US has orchestrated several military drills in the past month with countries in maritime territorial disputes with China. It has turned the South China Sea into the US playground to project its power in Asia.
The US meddling has aroused indignation from China. In a joint news conference with Mullen on Monday in Beijing, Chen Bingde, chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, criticized the US for masterminding the series of military drills at China's doorsteps and said the timing was very inappropriate.
The US military presence in the region should contribute to peace, not bring displeasure to the region, Chen warned.
For the South China Sea issue, claimant countries should understand that peaceful consultation is the only way to resolve the disputes. Washington's support would not come to them as a free lunch.
The US needs to perceive the rise of China as a chance for win-win cooperation on the regional and global stage. Treating China as a threat and containing it in the South China Sea issue would be a bad judgment benefiting neither country's interests. If Washington continues to go along the wrong direction, it should prepare for the severe consequences.
The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the China Daily Website.