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U.S. SENATOR TO HAVE A STRONG OPINION ON SEA DISPUTES
SCSC - The Wall Street Journal on September 16th 2013 published an article entitled “The American Role in Asia's Territorial Disputes” by U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
In his article, Senator Robert Menendez recalled some incidents provoked by China that have resulted in prolonged tensions affecting its neighboringcountries in the East Sea and the East China Sea.
The incidents as such include China’s encircling of Bãi Cỏ May (the Second Thomas Shoal) in the South China Sea, which is manned by a contingent of Philippines Marines in the East Sea, ships of the Chinese law enforcement forces or even of the navy ramming and firing upon fishing vessels of Viet Nam, or Chinese naval ship fixing its weapons - targeting radar on a Japanese counterpart. He stressed that in recent years, the situation in the East Sea has seen alarming developments. With conflicting claims and sovereignty at stake, any one of these incidents could easily escalate into a larger conflict.
According to Senator Robert Menendez, while the U.S. does not take a position on competing sovereignty claims, as an Asia - Pacific nation, it has an abiding national security interest in the maintenance of regional stability. The U.S. also has an interest in the freedom of navigation, free and unimpeded commerce, respect for international law, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. The question is what can the U.S. do to maintain peace and stability in the region and to help the parties involved manage and resolve maritime disputes?
In his article, Senator Robert Menendez proposed a number of measures to be taken by the U.S. in the region.
The U.S. should assume a greater role in establishing order so that all disputes shall be resolved on the basis of international law. The use or threat of force to settle disputes is unacceptable, and the U.S. must continue to support ASEAN in its efforts to make meaningful progress toward finalizing a Code of Conduct in the East Sea to establish rules and clear procedures for dispute settlement.
The America’s leadership should be promoted in Asia and the U.S. should support efforts by parties in the region to develop appropriate crisis - management mechanisms so that any unintended engagement by military or paramilitary forces in this region does not spiral out of control.
The U.S. should double efforts to work with countries of the Asia - Pacific region to develop a functional problem - solving architecture that can support the resolution of disputes through collaborative diplomatic processes consistent with the recognized principles of international law. The U.S. may not participate in the ASEAN - China discussions, but it can and should support this multilateral diplomatic mechanism to help manage maritime disputes.
The U.S. can play an important role in strengthening maritime security in the region, including maritime surveillance. It may put forward initiatives such as developing common coordination mechanisms, operating procedures, maritime surveillance, and capacity - building efforts for maritime surveillance and maritime police in the region.
The U.S. should continue to make clear that it will stand by its allies and deliver on its treaty commitments. The U.S. must continue to demonstrate its enduring commitments to the region.
Senator Robert Menendez also recalled the U.S. Senate’s passage of Resolution 167 that he authored alongside his Republican counterpart, Ranking Member Bob Corker and Senator Ben Cardin and Marco Rubio. The Resolution made clear the steps to be taken to secure the U.S.’s interests in Asia - Pacific in general and the East Sea, East China Sea in particular.
The aforementioned article by Senator Robert Menendez indicated the concern of U.S. politicians and scholars about the assertive actions of China towards its neighbouring countries in the East Sea and East China Sea. Such actions not only infringe upon the territory and sea waters of other countries but also do harm to the U.S.’s interests in the East Sea, impeding the “rebalancing” policy in the Asia - Pacific. American legislators are aware that China’s aggressive exercise of the “nine - dotted line claim”, gradually gaining control and seizure of the East Sea to transform China into a maritime power will constitute the biggest threat to the U.S. in the foreseeable future. Therefore, they have raised a strong voice, requesting the U.S. government to take actions to curb and prevent China’s expansion on the sea.
With the increasingly strong attitude displayed by U.S. legislature and members of congress toward China’s aggressive actions against its neighboring countries in the East Sea and East China Sea, the U.S. Administration has taken actions on the ground and voiced criticisms directly against China’s recalcitrance as well as its support for other coastal countries in the region. It has requested China to engage soon with ASEAN countries in the negotiations for a Code of Conduct in the East Sea. Besides, the U.S. Administration is also making efforts to promote discussions on the East Sea issue at regional forums, including the East Asia Summit and proactively pushing for the establishment of multilateral mechanisms to settle disputes in the East Sea. These are the encouraging signs for the coastal countries of the East Sea. Under constant coercion, intimidation and provocation from China, these countries should seize this window of opportunity to promote the multilateralisation of the East Sea issue and avert China’s bullying.
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