People's Daily chime: The United States using the South China Sea issue to engage in provocative diplomacy will not have a market area | South China Sea | issue

The United States has repeatedly violated the wishes of regional countries and attempted to stir up storms in the South China Sea, further exposing the true face of the so-called "Indo Pacific strategy" of the United States in creating division and confrontation in the region

At the recent East Asia Summit, the United States once again caused trouble around the South China Sea issue, attempting to provoke relations between relevant countries and China. The United States has repeatedly violated the wishes of regional countries, attempting to stir up storms in the South China Sea, further exposing the true face of the so-called "Indo Pacific strategy" of the United States in creating division and confrontation in the region.

The United States repeated its old tricks at the East Asia Summit, talking about maintaining "freedom of navigation and overflight" in the South China Sea, and once again using the so-called South China Sea arbitration award to argue. The so-called "freedom of navigation and overflight" in the South China Sea is simply a false proposition. The US has never been able to provide evidence to indicate which country's ship, which aircraft, or when it encountered problems while sailing or flying over the South China Sea. The real threat to peace and stability in the South China Sea lies in the fact that the US warships and aircraft, under the guise of maintaining freedom of navigation and overflight, are vigorously militarizing in the region. The so-called South China Sea arbitration award seriously violates international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and is illegal and invalid. The Chinese side does not accept or recognize this ruling, nor does it accept any claims or actions based on this ruling, which is a legitimate measure to uphold the authority and integrity of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The United States has been delaying its accession to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, yet repeatedly criticizing the Convention shows its hypocritical nature. In the so-called South China Sea arbitration case, the United States was originally the initiator and mastermind behind the scenes, but now it has repeatedly hyped up illegal rulings, fully demonstrating its intention to politicize, instrumentalize, and weaponize international law.

Over the years, with the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the situation in the South China Sea has achieved overall stability, providing a favorable environment for their respective development. China adheres to the path of peaceful development and, as a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, has always worked with ASEAN countries to properly handle the South China Sea issue on the basis of mutual respect, in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and in combination with regional realities. Currently, China and ASEAN countries are fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and actively promoting consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. As an extraterritorial country, the United States, out of its own selfish interests, tries every means to stir up trouble and stir up trouble in the South China Sea, with the aim of alienating regional countries from China, interfering with and undermining the efforts of China and ASEAN countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, and serving its strategic attempts to contain, suppress, and encircle China. The US approach violates the basic norms of international relations, goes against the will of regional people and the trend of cooperation, and is destined to not succeed. At this East Asia Summit, the deliberate deviation of the US from the conference theme, disruption of the cooperation atmosphere, and lack of agreement were natural outcomes. Earlier, the US high-profile claimed that the US and Indonesia Defense Ministers had issued a joint statement criticizing China's South China Sea claims, but the Indonesian side quickly exposed the US lies, stating that the information released by the US was inconsistent with the facts. Similar situations have also occurred before, fully demonstrating that the US's false diplomacy and provocative diplomacy will only bring shame to itself.

The United States has repeatedly hyped up the South China Sea issue, attempting to create artificial division and confrontation, coercing and luring regional countries to choose sides and take sides. Regional countries have a clear understanding of the intentions of the United States and generally do not want to become pawns on the US hegemonic chessboard. Indonesian President Joko stated that ASEAN cannot become an agent for any country, nor can it be involved in competition among major powers. ASEAN is committed to strengthening unity and cohesion. Singapore's First Deputy Prime Minister Huang Xuncai pointed out that ASEAN member countries do not want to take sides between China and the United States. "No action taken in any direction in the region will be followed by many countries, because no one in ASEAN wants to see a 'new cold war' break out.". The US should carefully listen to the voices of regional countries and fully recognize that any act of maintaining hegemony and self-interest by creating division and confrontation has no market in the Asia Pacific region.

At this East Asia Summit, the vast majority of countries advocated strengthening cooperation through constructive dialogue and friendly consultations to jointly build a regional growth center. The United States actively intervenes in the South China Sea issue, instigates regional relations, and is a disruptor and disruptor of regional order. Regional countries remain highly vigilant against the dangerous attempts of the United States and generally hope to continue to take the lead in maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea in their own hands, jointly safeguarding the overall situation of regional peace and cooperation. The US's provocative diplomacy is destined to be a futile attempt.