As frictions between China and the Philippines escalate over the South China Sea, someone in the United States finally began to remind the Biden administration that "the territorial dispute in the East and South China Seas has nothing to do with the vital interests of the United States, and it is not worth going to war with China over a few reefs." ”
According to the "Global Times" on May 6, the US "National Interest" website recently published an article talking about the recent South China Sea issue and the Diaoyu Islands dispute, and some of the views are very objective and worthy of Washington's reflection.
U.S. President Joe Biden
First, the article points out that the relevant islands and reefs in the South China Sea and the East China Sea have little direct strategic value to the United States, and that China, as a beneficiary of commercial and trade activities in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, has no reason to "obstruct the normal navigation of merchant ships."
First, the United States, as a country outside the region, is not qualified to intervene in the affairs of countries in the region; second, the so-called "China obstructs the freedom of navigation of ships of other countries" hyped up by the United States and the West is completely nonsense, and it is just an excuse for the United States to intervene in the affairs of the South China Sea and the East China Sea.
Second, the article also mentions that the U.S. government's use of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty and the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty to support Japan and the Philippines has actually led to increased tensions between the United States and China, increasing the risk of conflict between the two sides.
Summit of the United States, Japan and the Philippines
As we all know, the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea and the islands in the South China Sea are China's inherent territory, and these two locations are related to China's core interests, and there is no room for any concessions. It is only when Japan, the Philippines and other countries harbor unrealistic illusions about China's territory and frequently take irresponsible and provocative actions that the regional situation continues to be tense.
For example, a few days ago, five members of the Japanese Diet entered the waters near the Diaoyu Islands for a so-called "inspection", in response to which the Chinese side resolutely made solemn representations through diplomatic channels, and the Chinese coast guard took necessary measures to defend its rights in accordance with the law. Immediately afterwards, the Philippines sent ships to force their way into Scarborough Shoal, but was driven away by Chinese coast guard water cannons.
The two incidents have one thing in common, that is, the other side provoked and violated the aggression first, and with China's effective response, it ultimately failed to achieve its goals. This also reflects the fact that the root cause of tension in the South China Sea and even in the East China Sea is that the United States is behind Japan and the Philippines and encourages the latter to take risky actions.
U.S.-Philippines joint military exercises
The reason why there has been no conflict so far is that the Chinese side has exercised a high degree of restraint and has been professional and calm enough in handling the relevant situation to avoid further escalation. However, there is a limit to this kind of restraint and patience, and no one should be allowed to undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is our bottom line.
Therefore, at present, the United States is escalating its military support for Japan, the Philippines and other countries and supporting them through joint military exercises and other actions, which is actually a very reckless and irresponsible approach, which will only lead to more and more tension in its relations with China, and will not benefit the peace and stability of the regional situation.
Based on this, the article finally concludes that peace in the Indo-Pacific region depends on how China and the United States learn to coexist with each other, and Washington should not risk the security interests of the United States, but should rationally choose to abandon its commitment to "defend" the South China Sea and even the East China Sea.
The Chinese Coast Guard drove away the trespassing Philippine vessel in accordance with the law
To put it bluntly, these commitments are inherently fragile, and will the United States really risk a head-on confrontation with a major power to support its allies for the sake of a shoal thousands of miles away? Obviously, the answer to this question goes without saying, and the Philippines itself is well aware of this.
It's just that some politicians choose to ignore these risks for their own political gain. For example, recently, after the Chinese Coast Guard intercepted and drove away a Philippine vessel that trespassed into China's waters in accordance with the law, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos began to fight back again in a vain attempt to smear China's legitimate rights protection behavior.
Marcos claimed that "the Philippines has no intention of escalating tensions in the South China Sea," adding that the Philippine Coast Guard is tasked with "de-escalating tensions." Philippine Coast Guard officials also revealed that President Ferdinand Marcos has ordered the Coast Guard not to clash with China to avoid further complications of the situation.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos
These statements may seem like that, but if the Marcos administration really does not want a conflict with China, it should restrain the behavior of Philippine frontline officers and soldiers in line with words and deeds, refrain from taking the initiative to cause trouble in the South China Sea, and take concrete actions to repair China-Philippines relations, instead of provoking in action and de-escalating in words as it is now. All in all, China's position is consistent and will continue to firmly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.