American Double Standard Exacerbates International Conflicts

During a recent event-filled tour of East Asia, United States Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel visited Japan and expressed his open support for the country, defending Japan’s stand on the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands. His statement infuriated people who were angry at the U.S. for speaking publicly about its strategy of curbing China’s ambition.

Due to the rise of China in recent years, awareness of the sovereignty over nearby islands and maritime laws, in addition to the legitimacy of related actions, has increased through improved technology and patrolling. The U.S. has been attempting to encroach on the interests of East Asia and establish a global hegemony while interfering with China’s territorial sovereignty. For example, in 2012, while publicly expressing its neutrality toward the Sino-Japanese dispute over the Senkaku Islands, the U.S. Congress somehow approved of Japan’s action. In addition, before former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta visited China, the U.S. urged China and Japan to remain calm and encouraged them to settle their dispute through dialogue. However, after Hagel took over as the defense secretary, the United States’ attitude became more unyielding and its actions more bold, especially its response to the recent issues in the Korean Peninsula, when [the U.S.] added two missile defense ships to its military base in Japan. American deployment in the Asia-Pacific region on one hand strengthened its armed forces in that region, and on the other, helped Japan to strengthen its defensive firepower. The U.S. seemed to intentionally pick on China and thwart its progressive and legitimate activities.

Unacceptable Double Standard

Confronted with provocation from the U.S., I believe that we must all condemn the double standard the Americans are imposing on international affairs. During a defense dialogue between Japan and the U.S., Hagel used the invasion of Ukraine by Russia as a reason to call upon other nations to criticize this egregious violation of international laws. All the while, the U.S. itself committed a violation when it not only turned a blind eye from the Sino-Japanese territorial dispute over the Senkakus, but also secretly provided assistance.

Although having insisted on its neutrality toward the disputes over the Senkaku Islands and the East China Sea, the U.S. has recently provided support to strengthen Japanese defense and used the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty as a response to China’s actions. The U.S. combined Japan’s interest in the Senkakus with its own, on one hand, to condemn China’s use of violence to attempt to change the situation, and on the other, to use deployment and the treaty as reasons to get itself involved in this issue. In reality, the U.S. is the mastermind behind the regional disturbance while it benefits from this area’s unrest.

We believe that the U.S. should recognize this act of violation of international law and join the international community to vocalize disapproval toward Japan’s actions instead of indulging Japan and assisting to building its military.

For example, take Hagel touring China’s new aircraft carrier Liaoning. China is willing to increase military transparency and improve mutual military trust with neighboring countries, demonstrating its goodwill while mitigating hostility with bordering nations. With its tremendous support for Japan, however, the U.S. is completely ignoring China’s goodwill!

A Friendly ‘Lion’ Is Not Threatening, but Self-Defense Is Its Instinct

During a visit to France at the end of March, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized that “the lion has woken up. But it is peaceful, pleasant and civilized.” China is a friendly lion, willing to fulfill its global responsibilities by cooperating with other countries to maintain international order, thus protecting the stability of East Asia and preventing any unnecessary interference from outside. Although the lion is peaceful, its teeth and claws are sharp. When faced with foreign aggression, therefore, it will not hesitate to defend itself and protect its citizens, exhibiting a lion’s innate character.