The US's "collision" with the South China Sea will eventually lead to self humiliation and cooperation | South China Sea | United States
The just concluded ASEAN Summit and the series of East Asian Cooperation Leaders' Meetings have encountered some people from the United States constantly bumping into the South China Sea issue. Before the opening of the summit, the United States used the controversy over Ren'ai Reef to stir up trouble and conducted joint patrols in the South China Sea. Watching ASEAN leaders repeatedly emphasize the importance of cooperation and not intensifying competition in recent days, the US representative directly accused China of baseless accusations on issues such as the South China Sea on the last day of the East Asian Summit, attempting to provoke confrontation. The US's reckless behavior on the South China Sea issue will neither succeed nor bring shame to itself.
The US representative firmly emphasized the need for a peaceful resolution of the South China Sea issue in accordance with international law, while also loudly reaffirming the US support for the 2016 South China Sea arbitration award. This is inherently contradictory. The initiation of arbitration proceedings in the South China Sea arbitration case violates the principle of "state consent"; The establishment of an interim arbitration tribunal lacks legitimacy, the composition of its members lacks fairness, and it lacks jurisdiction over the trial of cases; The political orientation of its "ruling" is prominent, the legal application is far fetched, and the factual determination is incorrect. In summary, seriously challenging the basic norms of international law and violating the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is illegal and invalid. The Chinese side's refusal to accept or recognize this ruling is the true maintenance of the authority and integrity of international law.
The South China Sea was originally open and inclusive, and there were no issues with the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. Some American politicians deliberately distort the facts and complicate the South China Sea issue, but they are just looking for excuses to intervene in the South China Sea issue. In fact, through years of joint efforts by China and ASEAN countries to establish diverse dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, the overall stability of the situation in the South China Sea has also provided a good environment for their respective development. Over the past 20 years since the signing of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, China and ASEAN countries have fully and effectively implemented it, adhering to the peaceful resolution of disputes through consultation and negotiation by the directly involved countries, maintaining self-restraint, deepening practical maritime cooperation, and maintaining the overall stability of the South China Sea situation. Guided by the spirit of the Declaration, China and ASEAN countries are actively promoting consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and once reached, it will effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of all countries in the South China Sea.
The United States is constantly causing trouble and provoking confrontation in the South China Sea, and is determined not to escalate conflicts. This precisely exposes that it does not truly want to solve the South China Sea issue, but rather to create a turbulent South China Sea that serves the interests and ambitions of the United States. Regional countries have to pay a price for this. The United States deliberately portrays the "security trap" created by the tense situation in the South China Sea, induces relevant countries to engage in an arms race, and invests limited resources into security issues, which may make the Asia Pacific region the next region with frequent wars, and invisibly deprives the people of the countries surrounding the South China Sea of their right to development and strategic autonomy in pursuing peace and prosperity.
The Asia Pacific region is firmly committed to the path of peaceful development and win-win cooperation, and has already experienced the truth that "unity leads to prosperity, and division leads to decline.". Maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea is a common expectation of all parties and most in line with the common interests of regional countries. Countries outside the region should fully respect the efforts made by regional countries to negotiate South China Sea rules and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, and play a positive and constructive role. The beautiful and vast South China Sea cannot and should not become a battleground in international politics.