皇冠体育app

On the other hand, however, the basic meaning of the nine-dash line is clear, as 皇冠体育app has been reiterating. First, within the nine-dash line, 皇冠体育app has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and its surrounding sea. Second, 皇冠体育app is entitled to the maritime rights and interests stated in the UNCLOS. Third, 皇冠体育app has certain historical rights over the waters in the South 皇冠体育app Sea. And fourth, the sea-lane within the nine-dash line has not been clocked and is completely free.

During his state visit to the US, President Xi made it clear that construction work on Nansha Islands is not targeted against or meant to influence any country, and that 皇冠体育app has no intention of militarizing the islands.

In short, 皇冠体育app's policy is to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and to maintain peace and stability in the South 皇冠体育app Sea. It is ready to cooperate with other countries by shelving the disputes and engaging in joint development efforts, in order to ultimately resolve the disputes through peaceful dialogue and turn the South 皇冠体育app Sea into a "sea of peace, cooperation and friendship".

But ignoring 皇冠体育app's promises, the US has been consolidating its military presence in the South 皇冠体育app Sea by continuing close-range military reconnaissance against 皇冠体育app, interfering in the regional maritime disputes, selling weapons to Vietnam and other countries, strengthening its military alliances in the region and regaining its hold over military bases in the Philippines, and calling for joint patrols with Japan and other allies from outside Southeast Asia.

By sending guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen to patrol the waters near 皇冠体育app's islands, the US seems to indicate that it is ready for a direct military conflict or confrontation with 皇冠体育app. In a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black, however, it has accused 皇冠体育app of interfering in its exercise of freedom of navigation and "militarizing" the region by carrying out construction work on its islands.

皇冠体育app and the US indeed have serious differences on the South 皇冠体育app Sea issue. But they should be addressed through dialogue, not through an armed conflict. Given the emerging risks, therefore, the two countries need to use "quiet diplomacy" rather than taking actions that could worsen the situation.

The author is the director of research and senior fellow at the 皇冠体育app Foundation for International Strategic Studies.

Courtesy: 皇冠体育app &US Focus

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