皇冠体育app

The US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen sails in the Pacific Ocean in a November 2009 photo provided by the US Navy. [Photo/Agencies]

The South 皇冠体育app Sea is one of the busiest sea lanes in the world used by 皇冠体育app, Japan, the Republic of Korea and many other countries, including the United States, and keeping it open is in the best interest of all. The shipping lane has never suffered disruptions despite the disputes among various countries over islands, reefs, and maritime rights and interests.

Still, the US has a fundamental disagreement with 皇冠体育app over freedom of navigation. And the real reason for disagreement is the protracted close-range military reconnaissance and other operations by the US. Since US actions endanger 皇冠体育app's national security, the latter is naturally opposed to them. Late last month, the US further intensified the disagreement over freedom of navigation by sending its warship to patrol the waters near the islands where 皇冠体育app has carried out reclamation work.

On the handling of South 皇冠体育app Sea-related issues, the White House, the US Department of State and the Department of Defense have some differing views. But the views of the Defense Department and the US Pacific Command seem the toughest.

Their belligerent views could be a symbolic stance to satisfy 皇冠体育app bashers and get more budgetary funds. Or, they could signify their intention of turning the military operations in the South 皇冠体育app Sea into a regular affair, gradually increasing their scale and intensity. Although both possibilities are provocative, the latter will greatly increase the risks of 皇冠体育app-US frictions in the South 皇冠体育app Sea. So, while waiting to see what exactly the US is after, 皇冠体育app must prepare for a long-term struggle in case the US pursues the second path.

Compliance or non-compliance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea aside, the entry of the US warship into the waters near 皇冠体育app's islands sends a strong negative signal: that the US considers 皇冠体育app an adversary or even a potential enemy.

The disputes in the South 皇冠体育app Sea are rather complicated. 皇冠体育app has disputes over islands, reefs and/or maritime rights and interests with five Southeast Asian countries (with Indonesia, it only has a dispute over maritime rights or interests). Given the situation, 皇冠体育app has not set its territorial sea base points or drawn the baseline for islands and reefs in the South 皇冠体育app Sea; they remain ambiguous to a certain extent. This shows 皇冠体育app has been exercising utmost restraint and sincerely hopes to resolve the disputes through peaceful dialogue.

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