The writer of this letter is 101 years old and has spent over 70 years in public and volunteer service, focusing on education and welfare work among Chinese, Filipinos and other nationals in Hong Kong.

Her father and only brother died from injuries suffered in World War I and II, respectively. Those wars caused the deaths of millions of innocent men, women and children. However, the same wars became the source of great wealth to the United States. That wealth, we have recently been informed in the press, is quickly in need of refilling its coffers without causing devastating losses by war on their own land.

There is an argument that oil in the South China Sea has the potential to lead to World War III. But for what? Just to get as much oil as possible before no more oil can be found? And it seems certain that before too long, all existing oil will be used up.

Unless there are genuine scientific experts to explore the depths of the South China Sea and the exact placement of the oil, experts without political prejudice, and in the presence of a representative from each country with a claim, the complaint of unfairness will continue.

The presidents of China and the Philippines, and sensible leaders of other nations should surely be able to get together to measure the oil areas of each country with a claim, and work out the amounts for each. But to frighten the world with the fear of war, and to bring into the quarrel someone thousands of miles from the Asian countries involved - this is sheer madness.

The present situation reminds one of a class of infants fighting for possession of a doll or a ball. The real question is: Do they prefer war to peaceful talks? Bringing in the US can only aggravate the problem. It is like calling in a boxing champion to fight with schoolboys.

I am a mere nobody, but I have learned much of the world in my 101 years, especially the futility of settling differences through armed conflict. All I crave is peace for the world. War can only bring suffering to the innocent.

Elsie Tu, former Urban Council and Legislative Council member

(HK Edition 05/16/2014 page9)