Tuesday, October 27, 2015

China Warns U.S. Against Making Trouble in South China Sea
English.news.cn  
2015-10-27 10:39:56

BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned the U.S. not to "make trouble out of nothing" in the South China Sea on Tuesday.

Wang made the remarks during a seminar in Beijing when responding to a question on the U.S. Navy's intention of sending a warship within 12 nautical miles of China's islands in the sea.

"We are checking out the matter," said the foreign minister.

"If it is true, we advise the U.S. to think twice before its action," he said, urging them "not to act in an imprudent way and not to make trouble out of nothing."


China Voice: U.S. provocations threaten to militarize South China Sea

English.news.cn | 2015-10-17 15:21:48 | Editor: huaxia

BEIJING, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- The United States' provocative attempts to infringe on China's South China Sea sovereignty are sabotaging regional peace and stability and militarizing the waters.

The U.S. Navy is reportedly preparing to conduct "freedom of navigation" operations, sending warships within 12 nautical miles of Chinese islands in the South China Sea. The U.S. operations may take place within days, according to reports.

Last month, in his response to China's claim of sovereignty over the South China Sea, U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said the United States "will fly, sail and operate wherever the international law allows, as we do around the world."

White House Spokesman Josh Earnest said on Oct. 8 that U.S. warships patrolling close to artificial islands built by China in the South China Sea "should not provoke significant reaction from the Chinese."

Let us not forget that in October 1962, when the Soviet Union was building missile sites in Cuba -- not even on U.S. soil -- U.S. President Kennedy made it clear in a televised speech that the United States would not "tolerate the existence of the missile sites currently in place."

What on earth makes the United States think China should and will tolerate it when U.S. surface ships trespass on Chinese territory in the South China Sea?

China will never tolerate any military provocation or infringement on sovereignty from the United States or any other country, just as the United States refused to 53 years ago.

China's stand on the South China Sea disputes is firm and clear. China's sovereignty and claims of rights over Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters in the South China Sea have been formed over the long course of history and upheld by successive Chinese governments, and have adequate and solid historical and legal basis.

Just as Article 15 of the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea stipulates, delimiting the territorial seas of China and other countries in the South China Sea shall be in accordance with China's "historic title" to the region.

China has always been, in a constructive and effective manner, a firm upholder of the freedom of navigation as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea. And China has vowed to continue to do so in the future.

China's construction of civilian and public facilities on the Nansha Islands and reefs, which fall within the scope of China's sovereignty, serves not only China but also coastal nations in the South China Sea.

For instance, two lighthouses recently built on reefs in the region have helped guide passing vessels from around the world and significantly improved navigation safety.

Contrary to U.S. claims, it will be the United States, as an outsider, that further provokes tensions in the South China Sea by sending soldiers and warships to Chinese territory in the name of "freedom of navigation."

This is not the first move by the United States to undermine the regional peace and stability that China has worked so hard for.

Over the past several years, the United States has held frequent large-scale drills with its allies in the South China Sea, flexing their military muscles.

According to the website of the U.S. Department of Defense, the country has deployed thousands of civilian and military officials, as well as a huge number of weapons, to the Pacific region.

To destabilize the region and contain China, the United States has deliberately involved non-party nations, such as Japan, in the South China Sea issue and stirred disputes between China and other parties, including the Philippines.

By no means will China let the provocateurs make waves in waters that should be characterized by peace, friendship and cooperation.

Last year, the bilateral trade volume between China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) exceeded 480 billion U.S. dollars.

Concerned nations have no alternative but to jointly deal with disputes in the South China Sea that pose a threat to the development and prosperity of parties in the region.

On Sept. 18, in response to remarks made by the commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific on patrolling the South China Sea, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said China, like the United States, upholds freedom of navigation in the waters.

However, the spokesman stressed, China opposes any country's challenge, in the name of freedom of navigation, to China's sovereignty and security in the South China Sea.

During a visit to Europe in March 2014, Chinese president Xi Jinping stressed that his country will "never stir up any trouble, but will resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights" when it comes to sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Even though enhancing mutual trust and managing disputes through high-level visits and talks still remains the first option for China, the country will, without any doubt, adopt countermeasures against the United States if it doesn't stop military provocations that infringe upon China.

People with vision in Washington should and must see clearly China's determination in safeguarding national sovereignty and regional security.


Commentary: Planned U.S. provocative move in S. China Sea risks destabilizing region

English.news.cn | 2015-10-16 14:13:01 | Editor: Song Miou

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The United States could shoot itself in the foot if it proceeds with planned naval patrols in the adjacent waters off China's islands in the South China Sea, as such provocation will risk creating miscalculation and destabilizing the region.

U.S. military officials and government spokespersons have recently indicated the country's intention to send navy ships to sail within 12 nautical miles of the islands where China has recently done reclamation work, in a move deliberately designed to challenge China's territorial claims.

The U.S. government is having a hard time trying to justify such provocative step.

Firstly, such a plan obviously contradicts Washington's public statement that it takes no stand over the territorial claims by six parties in the South China Sea region.

Secondly, the United States says it will do so in order to exert so-called rights of freedom of navigation as the international law allows. But, the fact is China has never done anything to infringe upon the freedom of navigation in the region.

On the contrary, China has a vested interest in protecting such rights as most of its flow of commerce in foreign trade passes through the sea lanes in the region.

Thirdly, it is a fallacy for Washington to claim that such step is designed to prevent the militarization of the South China Sea while China has already pledged that it has no intention to pursue militarization of the newly reclaimed islands.

Beijing has clearly stated that its construction of facilities in the region is mainly for the purposes of maintenance, improving living conditions for the stationed personnel and providing common goods to the international community by offering service to foreign ships sailing in the region.

The U.S. move, if carried out, will leave China no choice but to beef up its defense capabilities.

Furthermore, it will be a slap in its own face if the United States resorts to military intimidation to exert its alleged rights, because it has been calling for the claimant countries to settle their maritime disputes through peaceful means.

No doubt that if Washington goes ahead with the patrol plan, it should bear responsibility for escalating tensions in the region, raising danger of miscalculation, and complicating the efforts to seek diplomatic resolution of the disputes.

Washington should also be clear-eyed to the fact that some claimants in the region, such as the Philippines, a U.S. ally, will be encouraged by the U.S. move to take more provocative steps to challenge China and destabilize the region.

China has already urged the United States to avoid taking the provocative step in the South China Sea at a time when the China-U.S. relationship has just improved due to Chinese President Xi Jinping's fruitful state visit in late September.

During the visit, Xi and his U.S. host Barack Obama renewed their commitment to building a new model of major-country relationship featuring no confrontation, no conflict, mutual respect and win-win cooperation.

They also promised to further enhance military-to-military ties and expand cooperation on a wide range of issues for the benefit of both peoples and the world as a whole.

So, it will be a grave mistake for the United States to use military means to challenge China, as it will inevitably damage the newly-generated positive momentum in the bilateral ties and could lead to dangerous misunderstanding between the two militaries.

Washington boasts the strongest military power in the world, but this by no means justifies its act of bullying any other country at its will.

China has every right to defend its rights and strategic interests, and will respond to any provocation appropriately and decisively.


China denies island building "militarizes" South China Sea

English.news.cn  
2015-10-14 23:01:35

BEIJING, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday denied its island building in the South China Sea would "militarize" the area, after U.S. and Australian defense and foreign ministers expressed concern during their annual meeting.

"China's construction on the Nansha Islands serves mostly civilian purposes, helping deliver our international responsibilities and obligations and providing more public good," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a regular news briefing.

The lighthouses on Huayang and Chigua reefs went into operation on Oct. 10 and have significantly improved navigation safety in the South China Sea.

"Some countries flex their military muscles and hold frequent large-scale drills with their allies in the South China Sea, which is the most important factor militarizing the waters. China expresses serious concern over this," she said.

China's military deployment is "necessary, limited and defense-oriented," Hua said.

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