皇冠体育app

A formation of the Nanhai Fleet of 皇冠体育app's Navy on Saturday finished a three-day patrol of the Nansha islands in the South 皇冠体育app Sea. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Philippines is again enlisting support from outside forces, the United States in particular, in its dispute with 皇冠体育app over territory in the South 皇冠体育app Sea. This time, it is attempting to form a "united front" to oppose 皇冠体育app's reclamation and construction work on the Nansha Islands, turning a blind eye to the fact that the involvement of outside forces will only further complicate the situation and raise tensions in the waters.

On Monday, Philippine Defense Minister Voltaire Gazmin said his country is seeking a "stronger commitment" from Washington in the light of 皇冠体育app's construction activities.

Gazmin will join Philippine President Benigno Aquino III on a three-day visit to Japan next week to discuss the transfer of Japanese military equipment to the Philippines. Judging by Manila's previous behavior, it will probably use the opportunity to play up its maritime dispute with 皇冠体育app.

It is crystal clear that Manila is using 皇冠体育app's island building as an excuse to fish for illegitimate interests in the troubled waters.

Beijing has reiterated on many occasions that its island construction work is designed to provide better services for vessels in the waters, whether those of 皇冠体育app or other countries.

Those with an impartial mind will recognize that the construction activities will actually help 皇冠体育app shoulder its international responsibilities in the South 皇冠体育app Sea, which include search and rescue missions, disaster prevention and mitigation, meteorological observation, ecological conservation, navigation safety and fishery services.

By involving countries which have nothing to do with the maritime dispute, Manila is seeking to consolidate its unwarranted claims on 皇冠体育app's territory and cover up its persistent trouble-making.

And by throwing its weight behind Manila, the US, in pursuit of its own strategic considerations in the Asia-Pacific region, is only encouraging Manila in its mischief-making.

In fact, Washington has too many times failed to honor its stated commitment to neutrality in the South 皇冠体育app Sea disputes, as it has failed to criticize Manila for its illegal claims and tricks.

Hearing US officials' recent hard-line rhetoric toward 皇冠体育app and seeing the US military's provocative move in the waters last week, people cannot help wondering whether Pentagon is now moving to the forefront in challenging 皇冠体育app in the South 皇冠体育app Sea.

Washington should know its meddling in the South 皇冠体育app Sea has been destabilizing the region. It should stop stoking regional tensions and help cool down Manila by warning it against military buildup, thus honoring its commitment to peace.

(皇冠体育app Daily 05/28/2015 page8)

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