How Dare America Object to China’s Military Rescue in the South Sea?

On April 17, the Chinese military announced that a Chinese naval search plane had landed on Yongshu Reef, also known as Fiery Cross Reef, in the South China Sea in order to pick up three gravely ill workers, and to send them to Sanya, a city on Hainan Island, for treatment. The American military had a very sensitive reaction. According to American media, a Pentagon spokesperson said, “It is unclear why the Chinese used a military aircraft, as opposed to a civilian one.” The spokesperson urged China to restate that it had no plans to use military planes near the islands in the South China Sea, as China had promised before.

It wasn’t difficult to tell that the American attitude in this case wasn’t very self-righteous; there was no wording such as “protest” or “blame,” even though “protest” was used in a CNN headline.

What is worth noting is how America is the first country to publicly protest the Chinese military plane rescue mission in Fiery Cross Reef. This further testifies that America’s direct interference and self-provoked China-U.S. confrontation is becoming a major conflict in this region. The territorial dispute in the South China Sea has become the channel for Americans to build ways to curb China’s growth. The South China Sea situation is what it is today because of America’s hidden agenda.

Let’s see what America has been doing in the South China Sea. On April 18, the American ambassador to the Philippines announced that America was supplying $42 million worth of sensors, radars and communication equipment to the Philippines to help them monitor the South China Sea situation. Several days ago, Ash Carter, the American defense secretary, visited five military bases in the Philippines, three of which are right next to the “nine-dash line.” Earlier, America also deployed the P-8, an anti-submarine patrol aircraft, to Singapore.

America has been very motivated in building a circle of allies in the South China Sea to target China. America urged Japan to get involved while also involving Vietnam by asking for Cam Ranh Bay to be open to American and Japanese naval ships. Meanwhile, it worked on Australia to make it an active participant in the South China Sea situation too. The American military dispatch to Australia could be considered a public response.

The USS Lassen, a naval destroyer, the USS John C. Stennis, a supercarrier, as well as B-52 bombers, have all visited the South China Sea recently. These blatant appearances are only the tip of the iceberg in America’s elaborate military and strategic planning.

America and the American military have done so much in this region, yet the Pentagon had the gall to raise questions about the Chinese military plane rescue of three sick workers. This must be rare posturing from one great power to another in the history of international relations.

China indeed announced early on its intention not to militarize the islands in the South China Sea, but China never said those islands could not be used for landing or takeoff of military planes. This is Chinese territory, so it needed defense; the increasing gathering of American military equipment in the area would only make the need for Chinese defense weapons more urgent.

Washington is very clear about how cautious and controlled China is in the South China Sea. Chinese naval actions have not surpassed China’s national interest and pace of growth. China does not have the ambition to challenge American hegemony in the world, nor has it tested the smaller countries nearby with all its strength. China is indeed the most low-key and cautious major country in the world in modern times.

America has faced the direct confrontation of two countries in the 20th century: Japan and the former USSR. They have both confronted America when they were far behind America in economic strength. America knows the true meaning of military action.

Washington is evaluating China with the most stringent standards in the history of major nation relationships; it is almost asking China’s peaceful rise to be as pure as bottled water. American demands toward Asia are that its own military authority and actions are always at 100 percent, while Chinese national defense cannot breach the ocean even half a step.

America needs to demonstrate respect toward China’s rise and reasonable safeguarding of its rights. America cannot pretend China is a subordinate needing lecturing and discipline. China’s rise has changed the power structure in East Asia. The change has to be reflected in the region’s order. The sooner America comes to terms with this change, the sooner we can have a turning point in peacefully removing strategic worries in Asia.