US Irresponsibly Flaunts Its Military Power in South China Sea

Published in Xinhua
(China) on 27 October 2015
by Wu Liming and Liu Si (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Fiona McAllister. Edited by Gillian Palmer.
The U.S. Army is sending warships into the waters within the 12-nautical-mile radius of China’s island reefs in the South China Sea, causing international uproar. The Americans are showing off their military force by sailing near the islands in the South China Sea. They are inciting trouble and becoming the troublemakers of the western Pacific Ocean; they are causing raised eyebrows in the international community and resentment among the Chinese population.

The South China Sea was never originally problematic; the U.S. has come and turned it into a problem. Harmony and stability in the South China Sea were not easily achieved, but were the results of the hard work of China and the other parties involved in the dispute. The U.S. sending its warships on “cruises” is undoubtedly a disruption, and is causing huge waves in the formerly calm and peaceful South China Sea. China’s minister of foreign affairs, Wang Yi, expressed that if it were true, he would advise the U.S. to think and think again, to not act without thinking and not to cause trouble where there is no need to do so.

As everybody knows, the U.S. and China maintain communication on different levels regarding the issue of the South China Sea. The U.S. position toward China is clear. As the two most important countries in the Pacific Ocean upholding peace in the sea, both countries together play constructive roles, and this joint effort is not only capable of benefiting the citizens of both nations, but will also have the power to promote peace and stability throughout both the Asia-Pacific region and the world. Last month, the leaders of the U.S. and China reached an agreement over “maintaining constructive communication” regarding the South China Sea. At the time, President Obama expressed that he believed both sides capable of managing their differences and agreeing to develop positive interaction over issues such as the South China Sea, and made it clear that both nations are completely able to reach an agreement through negotiation and turn their differences of opinion into areas of cooperation.

With that declaration still ringing in our ears, the U.S. has now sent warships “cruising” in the waters close to our island reefs in the South China Sea; its repeatedly fickle conduct is astonishing. This kind of provocation is irresponsible toward the peace and stability of the South China Sea and surrounding regions; it goes against international righteousness and the United States’ own promises.

The U.S. is carrying out its overt operation in the South China Sea under the pretense of defending freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, but this in itself is a false proposition. As everybody knows, the Spratly Islands have been Chinese territory since ancient times, and China has an abundant history and jurisprudence in respect of this. The situation in the South China Sea is generally stable due to the joint effort of all parties involved. The South China Sea is China’s important passage for international trade, and more than any other country China needs peace, security and stability within the region. China, together with ASEAN member states, is actively striving to achieve effective all-around implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and to actively drive forward negotiations regarding the code of conduct [established for] the South China Sea.

China’s defense of parts of the Spratly Islands and reefs is to protect its constructions and installations there, which neither affects nor relates to any other country, and should not be over-analyzed. China’s island reef construction is mainly in order to improve the living conditions of those working on the islands, to provide appropriate international public goods and services, and to contribute to further defending freedom of navigation and security in the South China Sea.

There are those who wish to make trouble, but China is not afraid of becoming involved in the situation. During a recent interview with Reuters News Agency, Premier Xi Jinping emphasized that all islands in the South China Sea have been Chinese territory since ancient times, and were left to the Chinese by their ancestors. The Chinese people will not allow anyone to infringe on China's sovereignty and related rights and interests in the South China Sea.


新华国际时评:美国南海炫耀武力不负责任

新华网北京10月27日电(记者吴黎明 柳丝)美军将派遣军舰进入中国南海岛礁12海里,国际舆论哗然。美国人不远万里来南海炫耀武力、兴风作浪,成为西太平洋的麻烦制造者,让国际社会侧目,也引起了中国人民的愤慨。

  南海本无事,美国来搞事。南海的和平稳定来之不易,是中国和相关各方努力的结果。美国派军舰“巡航”无疑是搅局,让平静、和平的南海变得波涛汹涌。中国外交部长王毅表示,如果属实,我们奉劝美方三思而后行,不要轻举妄动,不要无事生非。

  众所周知,中美双方在不同层级上就南海问题保持着沟通,美方对中方的原则立场是清楚的。作为太平洋上最重要的两个国家,维护和平之海,中美双方共同发挥建设性作用,不仅能够造福两国人民,也将有力促进亚太地区和世界和平、稳定、发展。上月中美两国领导人就南海问题达成了“保持建设性沟通”的共识。奥巴马总统当时表示,相信双方有能力管控分歧,同意在南海等问题上开展良性互动,表明两国完全有能力通过对话协商,把分歧点转化为合作点。

  美方表态言犹在耳,眼下却派军舰近距离“巡航”我南海岛礁周边海域,其反复无常的做派令人诧异。这种挑衅性举动是对南海和地区和平稳定的不负责任,有悖于国际大义和自身承诺。

  维护南海航行自由,是美方为堂而皇之在南海展开行动打出的旗号,但其本身是个伪命题。众所周知,南沙群岛自古以来就是中国的领土,中方对此有着充足的历史和法理依据。在各方共同努力下,南海形势总体是稳定的。南海是中国对外经济往来的重要通道。中国比任何国家都需要南海和平、安全、稳定。当前,中国正积极努力同东盟国家在全面有效落实《南海各方行为宣言》的框架下,积极推进“南海行为准则”的磋商。

  中国对南沙部分驻守岛礁进行了相关建设和设施维护,不影响也不针对任何国家,不应过度解读。中方岛礁建设主要是为了改善岛上人员工作生活条件,并提供相应国际公共产品服务,也有助于进一步维护南海航行自由和安全。

  有人想搞事,中国人不怕事。习近平主席最近在接受路透社采访时强调,南海诸岛自古以来就是中国领土,这是老祖宗留下的。任何人要侵犯中国的主权和相关权益,中国人民都不会答应。
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1 COMMENT

  1. China is just mad because they trued to bully other Nations, laying claim to what is not theirs. And, the United States called your bluff, and showed you how America does things. Get f****ed, and stop crying.