US imbalanced mentality stirs tension in South China Sea
- By Jin Canrong
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E-mail China.org.cn, June 4, 2015
This is why the media had expected some tit-for-tat actions at the SLD before Carter's speech turned to be more low-profile. He elaborated on the U.S. Asia-Pacific strategy and the willingness to cooperate with China. As for the South China Sea issue, which accounted for only a small portion of the speech, Carter noted that China was not the only country to claim the islands in the waters.
The chief of foreign affairs at China's Ministry of Defense, a PLA navy admiral Guan Youfei, responded to Carter's remark, reiterating that China was only following other countries' practice in building islands in the South China Sea. While expecting an understanding from other countries, Admiral Guan stressed the need for a peaceful solution to the issue, an opinion shared by Washington. In doing so, Beijing could require Washington to keep its words to reach a "peaceful solution" to the issue.
From China's point of view, there is an internal anxiety in the United States. The U.S. strategic sector is more anxious than the economic sector, Washington is more anxious than the non-governmental sector, and the military is more anxious than the diplomatic sector.
Such anxiety primarily stems from an imbalanced mentality in the United States. The United States is not confident that it can solve all of its problems, and the frustration developed into anger. China unfortunately becomes the handy scapegoat. The strategists in the United States feel under pressure to do something, in order to avoid losing confidence. The U.S. meddling in the South China Sea issue only reflects its inner anxiety.
Any attempt to seek a military solution to the South China Sea issue, with possible involvement from the United States and Japan, will result in a conflict between major powers. The clash would be big enough to influence the entire region. The South China Sea used to be a calm, stable region before the United States set foot in it.
China's repeated warnings aim to remind the U.S. of the danger of miscalculation and a broader conflict.
The writer is an expert in U.S. issues, and a professor at Renmin University of China.
The article was originally written in Chinese and translated by Chen Boyuan.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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