Op-Ed Contributors

Time to counter US ploys

By Li Bing (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-07-29 07:50

All parties in the region covet the comparatively rich oil and gas reserves in the South China Sea, especially the US, which is keen to control energy resources all over the world, for which it never hesitates to launch a war.

Therefore, the US has made great efforts to complicate, extend and internationalize the South China Sea issue and it assiduously attempts to make the sea declared as international waters so that it can wantonly participate in oil exploitation in the region.

In addition, through cooperation with oil companies of Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines, American oil giants have participated in exploiting oil and gas in the South China Sea and the US military claims that it is responsible for providing security for these companies.

The US has a national interest in navigation in the South China Sea. In order to secure its control on important sea-lanes, the US doesn't want to see China cooperating with other concerned countries to resolve the issue.

On the contrary, through high-intensity surveillance of China via warships and planes and holding of joint military drills with certain countries, the US is hindering a peaceful resolution of the issue.

The South China Sea issue not only concerns vying for jurisdiction of islands and reefs, delimitation of exclusive economic zones and division of marine resources, but also involves China's strategic sea-lane safety and long-term development. Therefore, the issue should be accorded strategic importance as it concerns national security.

An important precondition for putting forward the doctrine of "setting aside disputes and working for joint development" is that China has indisputable sovereignty over the islands on the South China Sea. Setting aside disputes doesn't mean indefinite abeyance, nor to abandon sovereignty.

China needs to strengthen fishery administration and maritime supervision so as to protect the rights and interests of Chinese fishermen, dispel illegal foreign survey ships, claim sovereignty in the South China Sea and contain the rampant plundering of its resources by others.

China has persisted in resolving the dispute through peaceful negotiations with neighboring countries. China never bullies the weak. At the same time, Beijing will never allow external forces, like the US, to interfere in the matter.

The author is a former research fellow at the Institute of International Studies, Central Party School.

(China Daily 07/29/2010 page8)