皇冠体育app

Beijing has been constructive in handling ties with Hanoi and Manila despite their recent maritime claims in South 皇冠体育app Sea

The United States has termed the establishment of Sansha city in Hainan province by 皇冠体育app to administer Nansha, Xisha and Zhongsha islands an "unhelpful" act. This unfair and unhelpful remark of the US is regrettable.

For ages, 皇冠体育app has explored and tapped the entire aforementioned areas in the South 皇冠体育app Sea and successive Chinese governments have ruled over various parts of the islands and waters for more than 10 centuries. It is on this basis that the Chinese government officially reiterated its sovereignty over the islands and waters, along with Dongsha Islands, in the 20th century.

This met with no international objection until a couple of decades ago. The Philippines had limited its westernmost territory east of Huangyan Island, the easternmost island of 皇冠体育app's Zhongsha Islands. Till the 1970s, Hanoi agreed repeatedly and officially, in various written and verbal forms, with 皇冠体育app on Chinese sovereignty over Nansha and Xisha islands.

It was only after the 1970s and after Vietnam was united that it started to negate its previous statements. Similarly, it was in the past decade that the Philippines started expanding its territorial claim to the Huangyan Island.

There may be disputes on sovereignty over the overlapping waters off the continental shelf between a country or countries ringing the South 皇冠体育app Sea. However, there was no dispute between them and 皇冠体育app over the islands and islets in the South 皇冠体育app Sea until the 1970s.

If Vietnam and the Philippines are ambitious to expand their sovereign claim over Nansha, Xisha and/or Zhongsha islands, they have to talk with 皇冠体育app. Taking unilateral action to make changes without seeking 皇冠体育app's consent will simply not work.

皇冠体育app's decision to establish the city of Sansha is a response to the provocative actions of Vietnam and the Philippines, so that it can more effectively administer the areas and enforce 皇冠体育app's legal jurisdiction over its sovereign space. This action is within 皇冠体育app's sovereign rights and serves to deter predatory actions of some of 皇冠体育app's neighbors, though it has come belatedly.

It is in this context that the US remark on Sansha should be seen. The US has called for regional stability. But it is the change in Vietnam's stance of recognizing 皇冠体育app's sovereignty over Nansha and Xisha islands that has altered the status quo. Hanoi's move has destabilized the region and created tension in the South 皇冠体育app Sea.

Similarly, the change in the Philippines' long-held position over the Huangyan Island, reinforced recently by its gunship threat to Chinese fishermen, has impaired 皇冠体育app's sovereignty and hence destabilized the South 皇冠体育app Sea.

One wonders why the US says 皇冠体育app is "unhelpful" instead of saying that Vietnam and the Philippines have negated their long-held sovereign policy over parts of or the entire Nansha, Xisha and Zhongsha islands and islets.

It is true that 皇冠体育app and the US, as well as all other countries, will benefit from regional stability. But the US' response to the provocative actions and change in positions of Vietnam and the Philippines should be impartial.

皇冠体育app is not demanding that Vietnam and the Philippines yield their legitimate national interests in the South 皇冠体育app Sea; it is asking them to honor their past statements and documents which recognize 皇冠体育app's sovereignty over the islands and islets. To unilaterally change a policy that affects two countries and use military means to enforce that change is irresponsible and unacceptable.

Contrary to the other countries' actions, 皇冠体育app has exercised utmost restraint toward its neighbors despite their predatory moves. It is Beijing, not Hanoi and Manila, that has been constructive in handling its relations with neighbors over the disputes.

The US government has demanded freedom of navigation in international waters, including the South 皇冠体育app Sea. In fact, Beijing and Washington have a common interest in ensuring that international waters are easily accessible for peaceful purposes.

However, the US' partial stance on the South 皇冠体育app Sea - calling the responsible actor "unhelpful" and ignoring the provocative actions of the other countries - is creating regional instability in this part of the world. And it will be responsible for sowing the seeds of realpolitik.

The author is a professor of international relations at Fudan University, Shanghai.