America Is Troublemaker Behind Chaos in South China Sea

As the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton once mentioned, the U.S. has national interests in the South China Sea, namely in the security of the U.S. maritime channel. Indeed, the U.S. Navy’s freedom of navigation in the South China Sea has never been threatened, rather an American intelligence ship has threatened the safety of other countries’ elusive economic zones. Even if the U.S. has a freedom of navigation problem (which refers to the issue of “sea power,” not sovereignty issues such as disputed islands and water which China and other Southeast countries claimed), why don’t Americans intend to stir this “muddy water?”

The U.S. has said it doesn’t “hold position” or “choose sides” in the South China Sea issue. Some interpret this remark as progress of the U.S. position. In fact, when the Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations was published in 1963, the U.S. clearly declared that Spratly Islands and their adjacent waters belonged to China’s traditional territorial seas. This was once America’s opinion regarding the South China Sea, how can the U.S. change, saying it “doesn’t choose a side”? Since the Philippines was once colonized by the U.S., Philippine territory was based on the 1898 Treaty of Paris, the 1900 Treaty of Washington and the 1930 Convention Between the United States and Great Britain. The aforementioned treaties never mentioned that the Philippines’ territory reached a longitude of 118 degrees west. Based on this measurement, Huangyan Island, Zhongye Island and those areas that the Philippines claimed, have never been its territory. The U.S. clearly knows this fact, but pretends to be “neutral.” This behavior shows that there is no progress of the U.S. diplomatic position. Conversely, America has retrogressed.

There are several reasons for the U.S. to cause trouble with the South China Sea issue. Specifically, the U.S. has its strategic concerns. First, America tried to distract China’s strategic attention and impede China’s peaceful development. The U.S. believes that the best method to contain China’s rise is through both internal and external co-attack. Internally, the U.S. once tried to “westernize” and “divide” China in three ways: corrupting, defaming and weakening China. Externally, America tries to deteriorate China’s international environment, destroy China’s image, weaken China’s soft power and provoke conflicts between China and its neighboring countries. The U.S. initially tried to cut the Chinese energy supply in Middle East and North Africa. It now tries to disrupt China’s energy supply in the South China Sea.

Second, America needs to find a strategic strong point in order to return to the Asia-Pacific area. Indeed, the U.S. still regrets its two strategic contractions in the last century: One was the withdrawal from Vietnam’s Cam Ranh Bay and Da Nang; another was the military withdrawal in Philippines’ Subic Bay and Clark Military Base. Its purpose for returning to the Asia-Pacific is to return to the aforementioned military bases. Vietnam and the Philippines are trying to exacerbate the South China Sea situation because the U.S. is behind them. However, the Philippines and Vietnam should not be complacent just yet. They have given up parts of sovereignty to the U.S. by receiving U.S. support. Particularly Vietnam, when it totally embraces its enemy, its regime will collapse.

Third, the U.S. covets rich strategic resources in the Asia-Pacific. According to the preliminary estimate, the oil reserve in the South China Sea is roughly 23-30 billion tons. The South China Sea thus is called “Second Persian Gulf.” Moreover, the South China Sea has an estimated reserve of natural gas hydrate, which is the best alternative energy to oil and gas, about 19.4 billion cubic meters. From the geo-strategic perspective, the South China Sea is located between two major navy bases: Vietnam’s Cam Ranh Bay and the Philippines Subic Bay. Additionally, the South China Sea is also the major maritime route between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. As the second largest navigation waterways in the world, the South China Sea is the lifeline of the U.S. and other major economies. Whoever dominates the South China Sea, can control these important waters and the international route.

Based on these three points, one can understand why the U.S. is so pleased to “stir the waters” in the South China Sea. What is worse, the South China Sea is not a “pool of still water,” which makes it easy for the U.S. to add fuel to the flames, and fish in the muddy waters. Nevertheless, the South China Sea issue can’t be solved by any savior, world police or judge. Certain countries need to know that some people are only too willing to help, but then can’t be rid of them. The South China Sea issue can only be solved by countries around the South China Sea. Although there are conflicts, it is easy to restore good relations among neighbors. Therefore, I advise countries around the South China Sea to treat themselves, China and the South China Sea better. Never tie its destiny to an American warship, which will not only harm others but also yourselves.