US actions danger to itself
Updated: 2016-03-21 07:08
(China Daily)
|
|||||||||
US Secretary of State John Kerry (R) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi shake hands at a joint news conference after their meeting at the State Department in Washington, February 23, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] |
Admiral Scott Swift, Commander of the US Pacific Fleet, told a conference on Indo-Pacific maritime security in Australia on Wednesday that an attitude of "might makes right" was returning to the South China Sea and sailing US warships through contested areas in the region was "not a naval issue" but a move aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation.
Although he did not mention China by name, Swift denounced "land reclamation and deployment of land-to-air missiles" as moves designed to change the established order.
If the US military presence in South China Sea is only aimed at ensuring freedom of navigation as Swift claimed, then it has a shared interest with China, given that it is China's consistent stance that it supports freedom of navigation in the waters.
The fact is the US has returned to the South China Sea under its strategy of rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific and is seeking to drive wedges between China and its neighbors in a bid to curb China's rise. This is an open secret not only in Southeast Asia and Australia, but also in the US itself.
However, there is a serious and practical problem for the US: how far is it prepared to go in mobilizing its military muscles to threaten China in the South China Sea?
Washington should know that the more provocative moves it makes against China, the more counter-measures Beijing will take. Such an undesirable cycle may push both sides nearer confrontation and cause both to prepare for the worst-case scenario, potentially making it self-fulfilling.
The realization of mutual respect between China and the US cannot be built on Beijing making unilateral concessions to Washington, but built on its strong national strength, its military strength in particular. The US should know that any actions that endanger China's security would also make it unsecure in the region.
- China boosts safety of South China Sea, Wang says
- China will not accept 'tainted' arbitration on South China Sea
- Australia should not conduct 'missions' with US in South China Sea: former FM
- South China Sea must not be tool to contain China, advisory body spokesman says
- US militarizing South China Sea
- Clear mist of confusion over South China Sea
- Talks highlight South China Sea issues
- Washington does not want South China Sea to be US-China issue, Kerry says
- No more US military presence in South China Sea, says FM
- Culture Insider: 5 things you may not know about the Spring Equinox
- Landmarks go dark in China for Earth Hour
- At least five dead in tanker truck explosion in central China
- Brazil's Lula sworn in over protests as Rousseff faces impeachment
- Smart city: A solution to urban problems?
- St. Patrick's Day celebrated around world
- Top 10 most valuable global brands
- These university canteen dishes will blow your mind
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Anti-graft campaign targets poverty relief |
Cherry blossom signal arrival of spring |
In pictures: Destroying fake and shoddy products |
China's southernmost city to plant 500,000 trees |
Cavers make rare finds in Guangxi expedition |
Cutting hair for Longtaitou Festival |
Today's Top News
Chinese biopharma debuts on Nasdaq
What ends Jeb Bush's White House hopes
Investigation for Nicolas's campaign
Will US-ASEAN meeting be good for region?
Accentuate the positive in Sino-US relations
Dangerous games on peninsula will have no winner
National Art Museum showing 400 puppets in new exhibition
Finest Chinese porcelains expected to fetch over $28 million
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |