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

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.