US should not cross the line to intervene in maritime disputes

Recently, the United States has intervened in maritime disputes of sovereignty between China and other related countries once again. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland made a fuss over China's establishment of Sansha City, saying the U.S. side remains concerned about China's "unilateral moves".

Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba recently surprisingly claimed that U.S. deployment of 12 Osprey transport aircraft in its military base in Okinawa is in line with U.S. strategic needs and Japan’s security requirements since "China plays an increasingly active role in the East China Sea".

Besides, Gemba clearly said that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton “has confirmed” that the Japan-US Security Treaty is allocable for Diaoyu Islands dispute, which means that the United States and Japan will jointly deal with emergencies over the Diaoyu Islands when they happen. There will be another dangerous game launched by the United States to intervene in China's core interests if what Gemba said is true.

Although America has repeatedly claimed that it holds a neutral stance in the sovereignty disputes over the South China Sea, it has made a fuss over the establishment of Sansha, a normal move within China’s sovereignty and turned a blind eye to the provocative words and deeds of such countries as Vietnam and the Philippines.

The United States emphasizes that it is hoped that all the countries involved should respect the international law and other rules in maritime disputes of sovereignty, but it undisguisedly places the Japan-US Security Treaty above the international law, provides military support to Japan over the Diaoyu Islands dispute and send advanced military aircraft to Okinawa at the sensitive time when Japanese politicians stage the farce of buying the Diaoyu Islands. Its motives are self-evident.

The United States crosses the line again in the China-related maritime disputes of sovereignty, such as increasing military input in the Asia-Pacific region by taking advantage of contradictions between China and other nations, stirring up tensions over certain major sensitive issues while ignoring the feelings of Chinese people, and becoming smug about its interference with maritime disputes and restraint over China.

As some countries concerned express their welcome to the United States for its participation in the South China Sea issue, it seems that the Obama Administration has an impulse to turn the attitude to more dangerous strategic moves, which indicates that the United States will lose the balance in dealing with its relations with China and other countries and conduct the strategic rivalry with China. However the result is likely to be that the United States, which was just out of troubles in Middle East, will be trapped in the issues of South China Sea and East China Sea.

Any Asia-Pacific policy against China is bound to be short-lived or come to an end quickly, which is determined by the current times and the intertwined interests between China and the United States.

Read the Chinese version: 插手海洋争端,美国别走火入魔, source: People's Daily Overseas Edition , author: Yuan Peng