We Should Be Wary of the Great Danger Posed by the Hidden Hegemonic Logic of the US

Published in Huanqiu
(China) on 08/06/2012
by Zurong Wu (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Xinlin Xu. Edited by .

Edited by Katie Marinello

On Aug. 3, U.S. State Department Acting Deputy Spokesman Patrick Ventrell issued a statement addressing the South China Sea issue. The statement, which was made with ulterior motives to fabricate a hegemonic logic, grossly interfered with China’s domestic affairs and slanderously accused China of “exacerbating regional tension and escalating conflicts.”* He also extended the so-called U.S. national interests unlimitedly to the South China Sea region and paved the way for further risky involvement from the U.S. in the South China Sea dispute by influencing public opinion.

Fundamentally speaking, the establishment of Sansha City is nothing but China's domestic affair, which the United States has no right whatsoever to interfere with and make irresponsible remarks about. The U.S.’ accusation is totally untenable and confuses right and wrong, sowing dissension and creating antagonism. China can exercise national duties through the promotion, degradation or creation of a certain administrative district, as well as the establishment or revocation of a garrison within Chinese territory. These actions aim to safeguard our national interests, improve the state's’ administrative efficiency and promote economic development and prosperity. They are carried out totally within China’s sovereignty.

Of course, the United States follows a hegemonic logic, which harbors the dangerous intention of justifying its excessive expansion of its so-called national interests into the South China Sea region. Ventrell claims that, "as a Pacific nation and resident power, the United States has a national interest in the maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law, freedom of navigation, and unimpeded lawful commerce in the South China Sea.”

It is common sense that the United States is a Pacific nation, but not an Asian one. Following such logic, isn’t it true that all Pacific Rim nations have national interests in the South China Sea region and that U.S. national interests can be extended to every corner of the world? The U.S. State Department seemed to express the position of the United States, but in fact, it is instigating nations all over the world to seek their national interests in the South China Sea region, just like the U.S.! There is no doubt that the U.S. intended to muddy the water by issuing this statement. This reminds us that as early as June 1995, a senior official of the United States claimed that if military actions took place in Sansha Islands and if they possibly hindered the freedom of navigation at sea, the United States would arrange military escorts to ensure such freedom. In order to create excuses for military intervention and solidify its hegemonic power in Asia-Pacific, the United States made every conceivable effort to sow discord in the South China Sea region, creating antagonism and escalating tensions.

Until now, the United States has challenged, attacked and even slandered China, which has fully exposed its seemingly impartial hypocrisy and its true intention of containing China. U.S. officials kept saying that the United States remained neutral in the South China Sea dispute, without any territorial ambitions. But the actions that the U.S. has taken have invalidated its claim. The United States frequently holds military drills with some countries that are in a maritime dispute with China in this region, providing these countries with military equipment and inciting them to violate the territorial sovereignty of China. The United States catches every opportunity to undermine China's efforts to properly solve the dispute through bilateral negotiations and consultations with the directly-interested parties on the basis of respecting historical facts and international law. In an attempt to contain China, the United States is strategically trying to transform the South China Sea issue into an international one in order to prevent China from resolving the disputes through peaceful means.
  
Driven by a hegemonic mindset, the United States is saying one thing and doing another to serve its own self-interest. Such acts have not only brought great difficulties to the attempts to solve the South China Sea issue through bilateral negotiations and consultations, but also have caused great damage to the regional stability of the Asia-Pacific. I would like to advise the U.S. government and the political elites not to obstinately hold to their wrong beliefs and sink deeper into the South China Sea dispute. Otherwise, they will not only harm themselves, but also be abandoned by Asian countries and their people. It serves the interests of the United States to stay away from the South China Sea. Asian countries and their peoples have the capability and wisdom to resolve their conflicts, handle various disputes and safeguard peace and regional stability properly, and thus to ensure their safety and freedom of navigation at sea.

*This quote, while accurately translated, could not be verified in English.


8月3日,美国国务院代理副发言人帕特里克·温特利尔就南海问题发表声明,粗暴干涉中国内政、无端攻击中国“进一步加剧地区紧张局势升级危险”,别有用心地编造霸权主义逻辑,把美国所谓国家利益无限扩展到南海地区,为美国以后更深度介入南海争端的危险行动制造舆论、埋下伏笔。

  从根本上说,中国设立三沙市完全是中国的内政,美国根本无权干涉、说三道四。美国所谓的指责是根本站不住脚的,是在混淆是非、挑拨离间、制造矛盾。中国在自己的领土上提升、调降某一地区的行政级别或新建、撤销某一警备区是中国行使国家主权职责、维护国家权益、提高国家行政效率、促进经济发展繁荣的需要,完全是中国主权范围内的事。

  当然,美国推行霸权逻辑,把美国所谓国家利益随意扩展到南海地区,包藏危险祸心。温特利尔声称,“美国作为一个太平洋国家,在南海地区保持和平与稳定,尊重国际法,航行自由和不受阻碍的合法贸易方面拥有国家利益。”美国是太平洋国家,但不是亚洲国家,应是地理常识吧。按照美国的逻辑,岂不是所有太平洋沿岸国家在南海地区都拥有国家利益,美国的国家利益可以扩展到世界各地。美国国务院的声明表达的是美国的立场,难道美国是在鼓动世界各国都像美国一样,到南海地区寻找本国的国家利益吗!美国发表如此声明,无疑是蓄意把水搅浑,企图浑水摸鱼。这不禁使人想起,早在1995年6月,美国就有高级官员声称,如果南沙群岛发生了军事行动并妨碍了海上航行自由,美国就准备进行军事护航以确保航行自由。美国千方百计地在南海问题上挑拨离间,制造矛盾,加剧紧张局势,是为军事介入制造借口,达到其继续在亚洲强化军事霸权的目的。

  美国此次单挑中国,并加以诽谤、攻击,充分暴露了美国在南海问题上貌似公正的虚伪面目和蓄意遏制中国的野心。美国高官口口声声说,美国在南海争端中不持立场,也没有领土野心。但美国在南海问题上的行动却与之背道而驰。美国和与中国有海洋争端的个别国家在南海地区频繁举行军事演习,向他们提供军事装备,唆使他们侵犯中国领土主权,利用各种机会破坏中国致力于与直接有关当事方在尊重历史事实和国际法的基础上,通过双边谈判协商妥善解决南海有关争端的努力,处心积虑地推进促使南海问题国际化战略,以阻止中国以和平手段解决南海争端,实现其牵制中国的图谋。

  美国受其霸权心态驱使,为了一己私利,在南海问题上说一套、做一套的行径,已给南海争端有关当事方通过双边谈判协商解决分歧增添了巨大困难,也给亚太地区的和平稳定造成了极大破坏。奉劝美国政府和政治精英不要执迷不悟、在介入南海争端中愈陷愈深、不能自拔,到头来被亚洲国家和人民抛弃,同时伤及自身。美国还是离南海远一点好。亚洲国家和人民有能力、有智慧化解相互之间的分歧,妥善处理各种争端,维护地区和平与稳定,确保海上航行自由安全。(作者为中国国际问题研究基金会研究员)
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