On October 11, 2024, the 19th East Asia Summit kicked off in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. This summit is different from the past, and we can see a hint from the name, and there are many more countries participating than the previous ASEAN summit series. The ten ASEAN countries are old faces, but this time United States, Russia, China, Japan, India and other major countries have also sat at the negotiating table, and even European Council President Michel has come to mix.
There are many issues discussed at this summit, from the tense situation in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, to the distant conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and then to the economic and trade frictions between China and the EU. But today, let's focus on the key events at the summit.
Let's start with the South China Sea. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos began to attack China again during the meeting. He shouted that the South China Sea dispute must be dealt with first, adding that "in the face of political tensions, it is impossible to pretend that countries are cooperating economically well."
Hey, listen, this Marcos is really ruthless. He clearly wants to stir up the tense situation in the South China Sea, and then use this as an excuse to obstruct the normal economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN.
He wants to use the normal economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN as a bargaining chip to force China to make concessions to the Philippines on the South China Sea issue. What he means is that if China does not give in, the Philippines will continue to make trouble and prevent China and ASEAN from cooperating. This attitude, that's really bad to say.
Why is Marcos so arrogant? And not because there is United States behind him. No, United States Secretary of State Blinken, who attended the meeting, unsurprisingly attacked China. On the 11th, Blinken slandered China for taking "increasingly dangerous and illegal actions" in the South China Sea in front of 18 countries.
He also said that China's actions "hurt the people of the region and violate the promise of peaceful settlement of disputes." In addition, Blinken also vowed to continue to support United States "freedom of navigation" and "freedom of flight" in the "Indo-Pacific region".
Blinken's statement is another promise to the Philippines on the South China Sea issue, trying to help the Philippines force China to bow its head and encourage Marcos to continue to be tough in the South China Sea. This heart of United States is really sinister enough.
Let's talk about the Taiwan issue. Blinken has also put pressure on China in this regard. He said that the "Double Ten Speech" made by Lai Ching-te, leader of China's Taiwan region, was a routine activity, and China should not use this as an excuse to take "provocative actions."
He also stressed that all ASEAN and other participating countries have a "strong desire to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait" and that no one should take action to undermine the status quo. You see, the United States's attitude on the Taiwan issue is still the same.
The United States just does not want to let China reunify, and it also wants to drag other countries into the Taiwan issue, "internationalize" the Taiwan Strait issue, and increase resistance to China's reunification.
This is what the United States government has always done. It seems that even though China and the United States have communicated several times, United States have not changed at all on the Taiwan issue, and they have to stand on the opposite side of China's reunification.
I have to say that the current situation in East Asia is really not optimistic. Outside, there are United States leading a group of countries to make trouble, and inside there are countries like the Philippines taking the lead in provoking China. Peace and stability in this region are facing great challenges, and the situation is indeed serious.
However, at this juncture, ASEAN and other countries that want regional stability should listen to China. During the East Asia Summit, the leaders of China's State Council called on all countries to respect and support China's peace efforts in the South China Sea.
He also stressed that China "always adheres to resolving differences with relevant countries through dialogue and consultation, and carries out pragmatic maritime cooperation". You see, China has been showing goodwill to stabilize the situation and promote common development.
All countries have to see the reality clearly, and if they follow the United States policy, the East Asian region may fall into a disastrous military conflict. But if we follow China's direction, then there will be good prospects for peace and stability in the region. So, all countries should make the right choice.
Let's ponder the South China Sea issue more carefully. Why does the Philippines have to get along with China in the South China Sea? In fact, the Philippines just looks at the support of United States behind it and feels that it has confidence.
But the Philippines doesn't want to think about it, can United States really be reliable? United States is fanning the flames everywhere for its own interests. If you support the Philippines today, you may sell the Philippines tomorrow. Moreover, the South China Sea is China's inherent territory, which has a historical basis and a basis in international law. The Philippines is making a fool of itself in the South China Sea, which is vexatious.
Let's talk about United States. Why does United States always make trouble for China on the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait issues? It is not because the United States is afraid that China will develop, which will affect its hegemonic status. United States wants to contain China's development by creating tension in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. But United States does not want to think that the world is no longer the time for it to be dominant. All countries want peaceful development, and no one wants to be dragged into the quagmire of war by the United States.
ASEAN countries, for their part, do not want to be drawn into disputes in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. ASEAN countries all hope to maintain good economic and trade relations with China and jointly develop their economies.
But the Philippines has made such a fuss, which has created a problem for ASEAN countries. If ASEAN countries follow the Philippines in confronting China, it will certainly affect economic and trade cooperation with China. But if they don't support the Philippines, they are afraid that the United States will give them small shoes to wear. So, ASEAN countries are now in a dilemma.
However, ASEAN countries should understand that China has always been a good neighbor and partner of ASEAN. China has been actively promoting economic and trade cooperation with ASEAN, which has brought tangible benefits to ASEAN countries.
Moreover, China has always advocated resolving the South China Sea issue through dialogue and consultation to maintain regional peace and stability. In contrast, the United States simply uses ASEAN countries as pawns and uses them against China. Therefore, ASEAN countries should firmly stand on China's side and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.
On the Taiwan Strait issue, all countries should also recognize the fact that Taiwan is part of China, which is recognized by the international community. United States wants to "internationalize" the Taiwan Strait issue, but that is completely wrong. The Taiwan issue is China's internal affair, and no external force has the right to interfere. If various countries follow United States in putting pressure on China on the Taiwan issue, it will only undermine regional peace and stability and will not benefit anyone.
In short, the current situation in East Asia is indeed very complicated, but as long as all countries can keep a clear head, recognize the true face of the United States, firmly support China's position on the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait issues, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability, then the East Asian region will surely usher in a bright future of peaceful development.