Opinion     

US weapons no use for Diaoyu Islands issue

People's Daily, August 24, 2012

• A 203mm self-propelled gun takes part in an annual live-fire military exercise of Japan’s Self-Defense Force on Aug. 21, 2012. [Chinanews/Xie Guoqiao]

  
  
  

  When China and Japan were in a stalemate due to the Diaoyu Islands issue, the United States came, with weapons.

  On August 21, the U.S. Marine Corps and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces started an island combat military drill of 37 days. The Japanese newspaper Sankei Shimbun quoted the words of officer of the Japan Ministry of Defense, “The content of the drill is that if the armed forces of China ‘invaded’ the Diaoyu Islands, how the United States and Japan should re-seize them.”

  The United States and Japan are jointly flexing military muscle to China and the aim behind it is clear. Of course, this ally of the United States is quite “worried” recently and it seems that the United States needs to console it a little bit. However, if the United States considers its ally's interests, it should consider its long-term and comprehensive interests and leave a route of retreat for itself too. Japan cannot move the United States to Asia. On the other side of the sea is always China.

  It is unavoidable since ancient times that neighbor countries have disputes and frictions. A fair and just outsider should promote the peace and ease off the contradictions but should not play “containing and balancing” tricks.

  Regarding dealing with relations with neighbors, China always sticks to the principles of “building friendships and partnerships with neighboring countries” and “building a peaceful, rich and harmonious neighborhood” and always puts the development of the relations with its neighboring countries at an important position. Only when a country gets along well with its neighbors can the country have a solid foundation for its development and security. It is a principle suitable for all countries.

  It is normal that contradictions exist between two countries. The point is how the contradictions should be regarded. The problems and contradictions between China and Japan are still far from large enough for the two countries to break off relations or battle against each other. If the issue could not be solved in a short period, a rational way should be that the two sides sit down together and talk. Both sides should be cautious, avoiding words and actions that might intensify or complicate the issue, and solve the parts of the issue that could be solved.

  Only if a large country promotes the global and regional peace, promotes the human progress, eliminates poverty and backwardness and makes efforts for the common security can it win respects from the world. Of course, China is never afraid of provocations. If somebody thinks that showing the military strength will back China off, he is absolutely making a big mistake.

  The Chinese people cherish peace but also possess the strong will of smashing any provocation. Nobody can take an inch of land from China by threatening China or playing tricks; do not even think about it.

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