The U.S. Navy’s stepped up patrols in the South China Sea are getting under the skin of some Chinese leaders.
An outlet affiliated with the Chinese communist party implied the U.S. Navy’s patrols prompted the denial and blasted the Pacific Fleet for raising tensions in the region.The Stennis Carrier Strike Group has been in the South China Sea for more than a month and was denied a port visit to Hong Kong, a move that many saw as payback for the long patrol and a recent visit by Defense Secretary Ash Carter.
“The U.S. Pacific Fleet has now become the biggest source of such a pessimistic mentality for both countries,” Global Times wrote in a May 4 editorial. “While they have become accustomed to controversies such as human rights, trade frictions and diplomatic divergences on hot spots, the US abruptly started its menacing military deployment against China's offshore interests, showcasing its military muscle by sending naval vessels and warplanes to China.
“That seems to be changing the nature of the Sino-US frictions. Due to the severe strategic suspicions, military problems have unprecedentedly emerged between the two.”
Experts rely on editorials in state-approved media to gauge opinions inside the Chinese government.
China, which has been constructing islands and airstrips atop reefs and rocky outcroppings in the Spratly Islands, sees the whole South China Sea as its territory. Evidence is mounting that China also aims to build another island atop the Scarborough Shoal, an atoll just 140 miles from the Philippines’ capital of Manila and well within the Philippines' 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
Global Times is among the most hawkish voices within Chinese state media and the editorial reveals deep-seated frustrations within some elements of the Chinese government, especially the military, said Zhiqun Zhu, a political scientist who heads The China Institute at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania.
“In their views, U.S. military involvement in the South China Sea, especially U.S. Navy's freedom of navigation operations, have complicated the dispute and emboldened other claimants especially the Philippines to stand up against China,” Zhu said.
“The USS John C. Stennis’ port call on Hong Kong was denied exactly because of U.S. Navy's more frequent and active patrols in the region that are challenging Beijing's position,” he said. “This is a political statement. I think Beijing wants to see a decrease or more low-profile U.S. military activities in the region.”
The cancellation angered some U.S. officials and lawmakers, including Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Va., who is a member of the House Armed Services Committee. Forbes called for the U.S. to respond by considering a port visit to Taiwan, which would almost certainly infuriate Beijing.The canceled Hong Kong visit was the first time in three years the Chinese have canceled liberty call for U.S. sailors, but it is not unprecedented. The amphibious command ship Blue Ridge was in Hong Kong at the time, however, and its port visit was not affected.
"China has repeatedly politicized the long-standing use of Hong Kong for carrier port visits, inconveniencing the families of thousands of U.S. sailors and continuing a pattern of unnecessary and disruptive behavior,” Forbes said in a statement.
“As Beijing's direct control of Hong Kong intensifies, the U.S. Navy should strongly consider shifting its carrier port calls to more stable and welcoming locations. While China finds profit in needlessly harming our sailors' families, many U.S. allies and partners in the region, including Taiwan, would no doubt welcome our carriers and their crews with open arms. The time has come to consider these alternate locations going forward.”
That move would likely be a non-starter, said Bonnie Glaser, a China expert and director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.
“The proposal that U.S. carriers should use ports in Taiwan instead of Hong Kong is unlikely to be considered,” Glaser said. “It would be among the most provocative actions that the U.S. could take from Beijing's point of view.
“It would be viewed as a direct challenge to Chinese sovereignty. … Such a move would be seen in Beijing as signaling U.S. support for Taiwan independence and emboldening [Taiwan’s new president] to challenge Beijing.”
Zhu, the Bucknell professor, said the flare-up shouldn’t have a lasting impact.
“As happened in the past, such incidents harm military relations in the short-term,” he said. “But it seems both militaries are playing down the incident. … So the militaries are keeping the doors open, which is good news.”
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