In Wake of South China Sea Issues, We Should Be Concerned with Sino–U.S. Maritime Power Conflicts of Interest

Published in Nanfang Daily
(China) on 13 June 2011
by Wang Ying and intern Xia Lixia (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Rickisha Berrien. Edited by Derek Ha.
In recent days, Sino-Vietnam friction in the South China Sea has brought the South China Sea issue to public attention. Yesterday, at the Southern Agricultural Bank of China's South Public Forum, Mr. Zhao Chu, the deputy director of the Shanghai Institute of National Defense Strategy, pointed out that in wake of the South China Sea issue, we should be concerned with Sino-U.S. maritime power conflicts of interest and settlement of disputes, neither of which China can afford to be too impatient on.

China Emerging as an International Force

Zhao Chu said that many people around the globe are discussing a Chinese military threat and see China as a country with "powerful economic strength and comprehensive national strength that can be translated into national defense." While many people are currently enjoying the reality of the soaring interests of "China shares," many of those same people are also very fearful of the situation. Why? Zhao Chu believes that historically, within the Asia-Pacific region and especially between China and the United States, apart from brief military cooperation at the end of the Cold War, institutionalized military security dialogue has never existed.

Zhao Chu stated that because of historical, technological, national strength and conceptual constraints, China never began the process of large-scale aircraft carrier equipment manufacturing and utilization, but in the future this process is inevitable. He believes that China has become a great power with a wealth of national interests, saying, "We have developed an adequate self-defense force, which is fully justified and reasonable."

Citizens Should Understand Disputes from a Macro-Perspective

In recent days, the dispute between China and Vietnam in the South China Sea has become the focus of much public attention. On the South China Sea issue, Zhao Chu said that "the real dispute is with the United States because America’s global hegemony is mainly expressed through maritime power expressed through the control and domination of all major maritime areas. Currently, the majority of our naval power is focused within the South China Sea; this is in direct conflict with the U.S. military's global military strategy. In the case of this conflict, because China and the United States are both nuclear powers, and because Chinese and American interests are complexly interwoven, neither side has the ability to pressure the other into submission."

Zhao Chu believes that in the long term, the South China Sea issue can only be resolved through relying on the cooperation of relevant powerful nations and the successful establishment of reliable, trustworthy and timely multilateral mechanisms for multilateral dialogue about collective security. Regarding Vietnam's live-fire exercises in the South China Sea, he pointed out that while the island belongs to China, we should handle the issue within the context of greater international disputes. Respect for the status quo is also an important prerequisite for negotiations. He also pointed out that the South China Sea issue is not just about national interests and sovereignty, but is also about a shift in the Sino-American power structure. China cannot afford to be impatient on important issues such as how to form a balanced and stable structure.

Zhao Chu said, "China needs to project formidable national strength, but more importantly, we need to learn how to use this power more effectively, more reasonably, more accurately and more correctly."


中越南海摩擦,让南海问题成为连日来舆论关注热点。昨日,做客中国农业银行·南都公众论坛的上海国防战略研究所副所长赵楚先生指出,南海问题背后更应该关注中美的海权利益冲突,而解决争端,不能有太急躁的心态。

中国正成为国际性力量

赵楚指出,现在世界范围中有很多中国军事威胁论,“强大的经济实力、综合国力会转化为国防实力”,现在所有人都在享受现实的“中国股”飞涨的利益,但是每个人都在害怕。为什么?赵楚指出,亚太地区,特别是中美之间,在历史上除留在冷战末期有一个短暂的军事合作之外,并没有制度化的军事安全对话平台。

赵楚表示,由于受历史、技术、总体国力、观念的局限,做大型航母的装备制造和运用的进程一直没有启动,但这个进程不可避免。他认为,中国已经成为一个大国,有丰富的国家利益,“我们发展足够的自我防卫的武力,这是完全正当、合理的。”

国民应从宏观视野看待争端

近日来,中国和越南在南海问题上的争端成为舆论关注焦点。赵楚在谈到南海问题时表示,“真正的问题在美国,因为美军的全球霸权主要在海权,海权的要素就是对海权的要点进行控制和支配,而我们目前的海军主要都是在南海一带,这与美军的全球军事战略有很直接的冲突。在这种冲突的情况下,中、美都是核大国,而且中、美有很复杂的利益交织,要想通过一方去压倒另一方,我认为不可能。”

赵楚认为,在南海问题上,从长远看,只能是通过有关的大国为基础,建立某种可靠的、可信赖的、及时的安全化解的集体机制和多边机制、多边对话的平台。而关于越南将在南海举行实弹演习事情,他指出,这个岛屿是属于我们的,但是的确应该考虑到在国际争端中,尊重现状也是谈判的一个重要前提,他指出,南海的问题不仅仅是有关国家的权益和主权的问题,它还是中美在国际权力格局中此消彼长,如何形成均衡,如何形成稳定的结构的问题,不能太急躁。

“中国要有强大的国力,但是更重要的是我们要学习,如何更有效地运用这种力量,更合理、更准确地、更正当地运用这种力量。”赵楚如是表示。
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