April 4, 2016
China responsible for inflaming tensions in South China Sea
The Yomiuri ShimbunChina is accelerating its efforts to turn artificial islands it built in the South China Sea into military bases, which is heightening tensions in the region. The nation’s self-serving stance is conspicuous for its far-fetched arguments aimed at justifying its conduct in the area.
U.S. President Barack Obama has held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, in which he emphasized the importance of freedom of navigation and a peaceful solution to territorial disputes. Obama urged Xi to honor the pledge he made during their meeting in September, at which the Chinese president said that “there is no intention to militarize” the man-made islands.
Xi insisted China would not accept any action that would undermine “its sovereignty ... and security interests in the name of freedom of navigation.” The two leaders remained far apart during their latest talks.
What is unacceptable is that Xi condemned the patrol activities by U.S. naval vessels in the region, a manifestation of freedom of navigation, which is a common benefit to the international community.
The Xi administration has deployed fighter planes and missiles on Woody Island, one of the Paracel Islands and over which China has effective control. China is also working to build and improve an airfield and radar installations on an artificial island it created in the Spratly Islands.
There are signs of new land reclamation activities by China on Scarborough Shoal, which lies close to the Philippines. All this may be viewed as an attempt to enclose nearly the whole area of the South China Sea by force with no regard for the concerns held by neighboring countries.
There can be no acceptance of China’s far-fetched argument that its self-defense measures do not constitute militarization.
Must earn international trust
China will not be able to gain international trust if it uses double talk to expand what it calls its “core interests” and continues to challenge the U.S.-led order in Asia. It is hardly possible that China will be acknowledged as a major power — the position coveted by Beijing — if it does not fulfill an adequate share of the responsibility to secure regional stability.
With respect to North Korea’s ongoing nuclear missile development, the United States and China are “both committed to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula” and will “implement in full the latest economic restrictions imposed by the U.N. Security Council against Pyongyang,” Obama said at his meeting with Xi.
The Chinese president responded by saying the two nations are facilitating “effective communication and coordination” on the North Korean nuclear issue. On the other hand, Xi told Obama he was opposed to the U.S. deployment of a state-of-the-art missile defense system, known as THAAD, in South Korea.
It was unreasonable for Xi to regard the U.S. and South Korean move, which is aimed at deterring North Korean missile attacks, as an attempt to exert a restraining influence on China. To reinforce the encirclement of North Korea, China must strictly implement the U.N. sanctions, as Xi said, and take concerted action with Japan, the United States and South Korea in this respect.
On the sidelines of the latest Obama-Xi meeting, the United States and China have issued a joint statement regarding climate change-related issues and nuclear security measures. They all constitute important subjects. We hope these steps will be steadily implemented.
However, it seems the two leaders are only endeavoring to stage their nations’ concerted action despite the lack of progress in settling pending problems, including China’s maritime advancement and human rights issues. That cannot be called a healthy bilateral relationship.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 3, 2016)Speech
No comments:
Post a Comment