Commentary: U.S. meddling in South China Sea a wrongheaded move
BEIJING, Jan. 27, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 27, 2016. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)
by Xinhua Writer Chen Shilei
BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- As U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry raised "concerns" about the South China Sea during his Asia tour, he may have been unaware of one thing: the U.S. meddling in the issue is an ill-considered move, which could boomerang and escalate regional tensions.
Before visiting China, Kerry stopped in Laos -- the 2016 chair of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) -- and Cambodia, two important neighbors and trade partners of China.
Kerry's calculated decision to visit Laos and Cambodia demonstrates the U.S.'s ulterior motives in counting on ASEAN to pressure China on the South China Sea issue, mere wishful thinking on the part of Kerry and Washington.
Western media reports only quoted Kerry's remarks after meeting with Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong and Thongsing's words that were paraphrased by Kerry.
Vientiane Times, Laos' English-language newspaper, reported Kerry's visit, but did not mention one single word about the South China Sea.
In Cambodia, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong stressed his country's position on the South China Sea issue was unchanged, saying that Cambodia believed individual countries should settle disputes among themselves without the involvement of ASEAN.
It is questionable whether the United States has managed to rope Laos and Cambodia in on the South China Sea issue.
But one thing is clear: a growing number of sober-minded governments -- not only those of Laos and Cambodia -- know that the United States, a self-proclaimed bystander on the issue, intends to meddle in the region and expand its own influence in a bid to counter China's peaceful rise.
Although Washington says it supports a peaceful resolution, its actions -- from criticizing Beijing's construction activities on Chinese-owned islands to signing a military deal with the Philippines -- only serve to undermine regional peace and stability.
The Chinese government has repeatedly called on all related parties to solve any maritime dispute through negotiations and earnestly implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
Disputes in the South China Sea should not be of concern in a China-U.S. relationship, one of the world's most important. Together, the two countries play a significant role in safeguarding world peace and stability.
This is why Mr. Kerry put China on the agenda of his first overseas trip in the new year. There is wide expectation that his visit would enhance mutual trust, avoid strategic miscalculations, manage and control differences and expand cooperation between China and the United States.
Therefore, it is highly advisable that Washington plays a constructive role in promoting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, of which the United States is an important part, instead of sowing discord, because muddy the waters in the South China Sea could blow up in Washington's face.
Related:
China rejects U.S. criticism of South China Sea activities
BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday rejected U.S. criticism of China's reef construction in the South China Sea and urged the U.S. side to stop "groundless" accusations.
"China will never take such unreasonable criticism," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said when responding to a question at a regular news briefing. Full Story
China urges all related countries to avoid militarizing South China Sea
BEIJING, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- China hopes all countries in and outside the South China Sea will make concerted efforts to avoid militarizing the region, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday.
In response to a question on the issue of militarization on the South China Sea, spokesman Hong Lei said it is "groundless to link China's construction on its own islands and reefs in the South China Sea to militarization."Full Story
Commentary: China plays constructive role in maintaining stability in South China Sea
BEIJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), China has been committed to preserving the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and to safeguarding peace and stability in the region.
Over the past weeks, the United States has sailed two warships, including one carrying Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, through the South China Sea in what the Pentagon claimed as "freedom of navigation" operations. Full Story
Commentary: No more fuss about free navigation in South China Sea
BEIJING, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Exchanges of blame in past months have drawn attention to the South China Sea. At least one thing is now certain: There is no issue with freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.
The undeniable fact is that there has never been any problem with free navigation in the region. And there will be no issue in the future as countries in the region, including China, value peace on the sea routes, which are a lifeline for their economies. Full Story
Source: Xinhua | 2016-01-27 15:36:03 | Editor: huaxia
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BEIJING, Jan. 27, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 27, 2016. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)
by Xinhua Writer Chen Shilei
BEIJING, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- As U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry raised "concerns" about the South China Sea during his Asia tour, he may have been unaware of one thing: the U.S. meddling in the issue is an ill-considered move, which could boomerang and escalate regional tensions.
Before visiting China, Kerry stopped in Laos -- the 2016 chair of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) -- and Cambodia, two important neighbors and trade partners of China.
Kerry's calculated decision to visit Laos and Cambodia demonstrates the U.S.'s ulterior motives in counting on ASEAN to pressure China on the South China Sea issue, mere wishful thinking on the part of Kerry and Washington.
Western media reports only quoted Kerry's remarks after meeting with Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong and Thongsing's words that were paraphrased by Kerry.
Vientiane Times, Laos' English-language newspaper, reported Kerry's visit, but did not mention one single word about the South China Sea.
In Cambodia, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong stressed his country's position on the South China Sea issue was unchanged, saying that Cambodia believed individual countries should settle disputes among themselves without the involvement of ASEAN.
It is questionable whether the United States has managed to rope Laos and Cambodia in on the South China Sea issue.
But one thing is clear: a growing number of sober-minded governments -- not only those of Laos and Cambodia -- know that the United States, a self-proclaimed bystander on the issue, intends to meddle in the region and expand its own influence in a bid to counter China's peaceful rise.
Although Washington says it supports a peaceful resolution, its actions -- from criticizing Beijing's construction activities on Chinese-owned islands to signing a military deal with the Philippines -- only serve to undermine regional peace and stability.
The Chinese government has repeatedly called on all related parties to solve any maritime dispute through negotiations and earnestly implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
Disputes in the South China Sea should not be of concern in a China-U.S. relationship, one of the world's most important. Together, the two countries play a significant role in safeguarding world peace and stability.
This is why Mr. Kerry put China on the agenda of his first overseas trip in the new year. There is wide expectation that his visit would enhance mutual trust, avoid strategic miscalculations, manage and control differences and expand cooperation between China and the United States.
Therefore, it is highly advisable that Washington plays a constructive role in promoting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, of which the United States is an important part, instead of sowing discord, because muddy the waters in the South China Sea could blow up in Washington's face.
Related:
China rejects U.S. criticism of South China Sea activities
BEIJING, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday rejected U.S. criticism of China's reef construction in the South China Sea and urged the U.S. side to stop "groundless" accusations.
"China will never take such unreasonable criticism," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said when responding to a question at a regular news briefing. Full Story
China urges all related countries to avoid militarizing South China Sea
BEIJING, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- China hopes all countries in and outside the South China Sea will make concerted efforts to avoid militarizing the region, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday.
In response to a question on the issue of militarization on the South China Sea, spokesman Hong Lei said it is "groundless to link China's construction on its own islands and reefs in the South China Sea to militarization."Full Story
Commentary: China plays constructive role in maintaining stability in South China Sea
BEIJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), China has been committed to preserving the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and to safeguarding peace and stability in the region.
Over the past weeks, the United States has sailed two warships, including one carrying Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, through the South China Sea in what the Pentagon claimed as "freedom of navigation" operations. Full Story
Commentary: No more fuss about free navigation in South China Sea
BEIJING, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Exchanges of blame in past months have drawn attention to the South China Sea. At least one thing is now certain: There is no issue with freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.
The undeniable fact is that there has never been any problem with free navigation in the region. And there will be no issue in the future as countries in the region, including China, value peace on the sea routes, which are a lifeline for their economies. Full Story
Source: Xinhua | 2016-01-27 15:36:03 | Editor: huaxia