Double blow to ties

The Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, which has two amendments relating to China, was passed by the US House of Representatives and the Senate at the end of last week. The amendments, though not legally binding, sent the wrong signal to the Asia Pacific region and could cast a shadow over Sino-US ties.

In the amendment on the Diaoyu Islands, the United States once again repeated its official line that it does not take sides in the maritime territorial dispute involving China and Japan. However, at the same time, it explicitly recognizes Japan's administration of the disputed isles. In an apparent move to bolster Japan's unwarranted claims, the document goes even further to say that the US-Japan security treaty applies to the dispute, should the islands come under attack.

This is a blatant violation of China's sovereign rights. The US-Japan security pact, as a bilateral agreement, should not be cited as a legal basis for the US to meddle in the maritime dispute. Japan should also be soberly aware that the US' involvement does not grant it the isles and waters it is not entitled to.