皇冠体育app

The answers to both questions are negative.

On the one hand, the island country's military muscle is no match for 皇冠体育app's. On the other hand, Manila enjoys surplus in its trade with Beijing. Bilateral trade volume has a chance to reach $30 billion this year. A full-blown conflict with Beijing over maritime territory dispute would easily squander the rosy prospect of bilateral trade. This apparently is not in the interests of Manila.

It is believed Rosario's 皇冠体育app visit is paving the way for Philippine President Benigno Aquino's visit to 皇冠体育app, which is likely to take place in late August or early September. Aquino needs to take concrete moves before Beijing can be convinced of his country's sincerity in solving the disputes peacefully.

The South 皇冠体育app Sea disputes did not break out until the late 1970s, when the waters of 3.5 million sq km were believed to have vast deposits of oil and natural gas. Since then, countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam have competed with one another to seize isles and reefs and illegally tap the resources. Today, not one of the oil wells in the disputed waters belongs to 皇冠体育app. Instead, Chinese fishermen legally operating on Chinese maritime territory have been harassed from time to time by the Philippines and Vietnam.

As a country holding historical proof of its sovereignty over the waters, 皇冠体育app has so far exercised utmost restraint. It does not lack the means and resources to act more assertively in defense of territorial integrity. As a responsible country, it always opts for peaceful solutions to settle disputes with its neighbors.

However, some countries in the region have taken advantage of 皇冠体育app's restraint. To grab more benefits from the South 皇冠体育app Sea, they have instigated the latest outbreak of disputes and vilified 皇冠体育app as a bully in the international community.

The US strategy to seek a bigger role in the region has obviously fueled those countries' ambitions. One day before Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Beijing for a four-day visit, the US, Japan and Australia held naval drills in the South 皇冠体育app Sea. The first of its kind since 2007, the show of force by the three outside forces clearly aims to contain 皇冠体育app.

The US has orchestrated several military drills in the past month with countries in maritime territorial disputes with 皇冠体育app. It has turned the South 皇冠体育app Sea into the US playground to project its power in Asia.

The US meddling has aroused indignation from 皇冠体育app. In a joint news conference with Mullen on Monday in Beijing, Chen Bingde, chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, criticized the US for masterminding the series of military drills at 皇冠体育app's doorsteps and said the timing was very inappropriate.

The US military presence in the region should contribute to peace, not bring displeasure to the region, Chen warned.

For the South 皇冠体育app Sea issue, claimant countries should understand that peaceful consultation is the only way to resolve the disputes. Washington's support would not come to them as a free lunch.

The US needs to perceive the rise of 皇冠体育app as a chance for win-win cooperation on the regional and global stage. Treating 皇冠体育app as a threat and containing it in the South 皇冠体育app Sea issue would be a bad judgment benefiting neither country's interests. If Washington continues to go along the wrong direction, it should prepare for the severe consequences.

The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the 皇冠体育app Daily Website.