Why is the US constantly sowing discord in South ChinaSea?

(People's Daily Online) 08:42, February 05, 2015

The US 7th Fleet Commander Robert Thomas recently stated that the United Stateswould welcome a Japanese extension of air patrols into the South China Sea. The Pentagonsubsequently expressed support for this statement and said this would help to maintainstability in the South China Sea.

We all know the South China Sea is not peaceful. In recent decades, several countriessurrounding the region have been eroding Chinese territory and violating China's economicrights and interests in the region.

Meanwhile, the United States pushes its 'rebalancing'strategy in the Asia-Pacific region andexpands its military presence in the region . For some time, the Unites States has not onlyconducted close surveillance over China, but also expanded its alliances and partnerships inthe region.

The Unites States is an obvious agitator in the South China Sea disputes, which would beresolved through direct negotiation without US interference.

Senior US military officials and officials of the Department of Defense are now encouragingJapan to get involved in South China Sea affairs Their objectives are as follows:

First, by expanding the internationalization of the South China Sea, to exert moreinternational pressure on China; second, through a joint show of force by the United Statesand Japan, to upgrade the deterrent to China; third, sending a signal to the other partiesinvolved that they have no need to rely on diplomatic means to seek mutual benefits; theycan depend on the interference of the United States.

The United States has nothing more to offer than continued dominance in East Asia. Itappears to take the view that neither China nor any of the other countries which areactually located in this region are entitled to develop rules that apply there. China onlyseeks to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests of national sovereignty, and does notseek any special entitlements. The South China Sea has historically belonged to China, andits neighboring countries have accepted that as a fact in the past.

The United States has repeatedly encouraged Japan to patrol in the region, an indicationthat it hopes to take advantage of the Sino-Japanese conflict to hinder independentconsultations between China and the ASEAN countries.

In the name of regional stability, the United States is sowing discord in the South ChinaSea. It will not succeed in its attempts to dominate the region, and the East Asian countriesshould realize that achieving regional development and security depend on cooperation.

The author is Shen Dingli, a professor and associate dean at the Institute of InternationalStudies of Shanghai-based Fudan University.

This article was edited and translated from 美国为何唯恐南海不乱, source: People's DailyOverseas Edition, author: Shen Dingli.

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