Top military paper in China warns US of confrontation over South China Sea
BEIJING — China's top military newspaper warned the United States on Saturday that US-Philippine military exercises have fanned risks of armed confrontation over the disputed South China Sea.
The commentary in China's Liberation Army Daily falls short of a formal government statement, but marks the harshest high-level warning yet from Beijing about tensions with the Philippines over disputed seas where both countries have recently sent ships to assert their claims.
This week American and Filipino troops launched a fortnight of annual naval drills amid the stand-off between Beijing and Manila, who have accused each other of encroaching on sovereign seas near Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal), about 200 kilometers west of the former U.S. naval base at Subic Bay.
The joint exercises are held in different seas around the Philippines; the leg that takes place in the South China Sea area starts on Monday.
"Anyone with clear eyes saw long ago that behind these drills is reflected a mentality that will lead the South China Sea issue down a fork in the road towards military confrontation and resolution through armed force," said the commentary in the Chinese paper, which is the chief mouthpiece of the People's Liberation Army.
"Through this kind of meddling and intervention, the United States will only stir up the entire South China Sea situation towards increasing chaos, and this will inevitably have a massive impact on regional peace and stability."
Up to now, China has chided the Philippines over the dispute about the uninhabited shoal known in the Philippines as Panatag Shoal and which China calls Huangyan Island, about 124 nautical miles off the main Philippine island of Luzon.
"The United States' intention of trying to draw more countries into stirring up the situation in the South China Sea is being brandished to the full," it said.
Regional tensions
Beijing has sought to resolve the disputes one-on-one but there is worry among its neighbors over what some see as growing Chinese assertiveness in staking claims over the seas and various islands, reefs and shoals.
In past patches of regional tension over disputed seas, hawkish Chinese military voices have also emerged, only to be later reined in by the government, and the same could be true this time.
Since late 2010, China has sought to cool tensions with the United States over regional disputes, trade and currency policies, human rights and other contentious issues. Especially with the ruling Chinese Party preoccupied with a leadership succession late in 2012, Beijing has stressed its hopes for steady relations throughout this year.
Nonetheless, experts have said that China remains wary of U.S. military intentions across the Asia-Pacific, especially in the wake of the Obama administration's vows to "pivot" to the region, reinvigorating diplomatic and security ties with allies.
The Liberation Army Daily commentary echoed that wariness.
"The U.S. strategy of returning to the Asia-Pacific carries the implication of a shift in military focus, and there is no better strategic opening than China's sovereignty disputes with the Philippines and other countries in the South China Sea," said the newspaper.
China has territorial disputes with the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan in the South China Sea, which could be rich in oil and gas and is spanned by busy shipping lanes.
By CHRIS BUCKLEY, Reuters with GMA News/ HS
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The Philippine government simply following the "bible" of the laws of the sea is untenable and unsustainable. China too can claim 200 nautical miles from its islands since the historical facts show the entire South China Sea belonged to China since ancient times in 12th century, before USA is born.
ReplyDeleteUS conquered/colonized Philippines before and now US wants to incorporate Philippines into American defense strategy to contain China's rise.
Hope the stand-off to resolve soon as China engages all – US and Philippine governments included.
ReplyDeleteAsians themselves must understand the real issues, not be confused by the outside forces like the non-issues of freedom of navigation in South China Sea, unimpeded trade and commerce there, which were and are in facts consistently enjoyed by all in the South China Sea area since ancient times.
The facts are : Philippine was colonized by US and still remains in the mentality of depending on US aid.
ReplyDeleteYou think US cares Philippines? No, US only cares and looks after US own interests. In another words, US don't care who own South China Sea, whether Asean or China as US wants freedom of navigation and action as US is not a party/US refuses to sign UN'sLaws of the Seas agreement.
Do you think US allow you to vote and elect their political masters? Don't imitate and behave like US politicians unless you are capable of your own !!
We must learn from the history. Today, peoples can think better and more advance in China than US.The 19th century Cold War mentality and its human rights in the 21st century have led to the declined US while we see China's peaceful rise!
ReplyDeleteLikewise, the Philippine govt behavior is a sign of weakness and not strength, like the banana republics. Imagine when China stops buying banana from Philippines, what would happen to Philippines' economy?
Stop the confrontations and resolve the disputes in South China Sea peacefully!
Philippines and US still remain in Cold War mentality of the 19th century in this 21st century. No wonder Philippines remains in poverty and the decline of US while China’s rise peacefully and steadily.
ReplyDeleteHistory showed that US abandoned allies when its interests were jeopardized. Remember US abandoned Philippines when the Japanese advanced and conquered the Philippines during the wars. US would not foolishly allow Philippines using them into conflict with China to jeopardize own interests.
In fact, Philippines is least importance to US when compared to China, Japan and Korea, etc.
Right now, US aid to Philippines is only a blank cheque. They desperately need Philippines buy more and more weapons of destruction and military equipment to improve their economy and reduce the mountains of debts.
Americans are back to Asia and some countries like Philippines are willingly to be recolonized again.