China has offered a solution to the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) dispute, while warning some claimants not to rely on the US or Japan to come to their support, because “they are unlikely to sacrifice their own interests to aid Asean countries.”
At the same time, China said Manila’s strategic partnership with Hanoi to put up a common front against Beijing in the South China Sea row will not work also.
“Vietnam and China’s common interests in ideology are no less significant than their disputed territorial interests,” according to an article written by Li Kaisheng.
Both pieces were carried by the China Daily, the communist party’s mouthpiece, and Global Times, a Chinese tabloid under the auspices of the People’s Daily newspaper.
Li said the best option for the Philippines “is a one-on-one interactive system between China and each other claimant,” the first of four options that he had proposed.
The piece appeared at a time when the Philippines had recently filed a complaint against China for its ongoing reclamations in the South China Sea.
China maintains that it has sovereignty over most of the shoals, reefs and islands in the contested area, which it defined by a tongue-shaped nine-dash line. Three other countries lay claim, in whole or in parts, to the area: Taiwan, Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia. Manila and Hanoi criticized China for unilaterally changing the status quo in the South China Sea by expanding construction on some disputed islands.
Li said the first option proposed by China—a one-on-one or bilateral discussion with China—“is the last choice Manila and Hanoi want.”
He said the Philippines and Vietnam have been engaged in a joint effort to establish a strategic partnership, and added that a blueprint has been produced in less than a year.
“The potential influence of the partnership merits close attention,” he said.
But Li sneered at the two countries strategic partnership because “Manila and Hanoi’s combined strength is merely a fraction of China’s.”
“In the short run, this partnership might gain themselves some leverage in dealing with China, but these petty interests would be acquired at the larger cost of China’s trust, thus, doing no good to peace in the South China Sea.”
The third option, which includes Asean in the mediation, is the point where the interests of all parties can be balanced, according to Li.
He said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has suggested a dual-track approach, which seeks a one-on-one mechanism in sovereignty issues, but an all-inclusive system in regional peacekeeping. “China has offered a flexible solution, and now is the time that the other claimants show their sincerity.”
5 comments
Now Chinazi want to imposed their will.
another trash talk from d peeples lepublic of cooopals
Evil China
Sure. One on one in front of a tribunal. But where are you? You’re full of hot air! To be blunt about it, you’re full of crap.
The whole world have seen your mouthpiece’s new building under construction. To be blunt about it, it is shaped like a dicky. It’s in the net. I think that says it all what China is.
I don’t think that is a fair statement. China cannot dictate that choice. If China thinks it can get away with grabbing the legitimate exclusive economic zone of other countries, then it is on the path of long and dangerous journey in the Southeast Asian waters. China is not a southeast Asian country hence has no EEZ in the waters of the southeast Asian countries.