China and US Again

The recent incident in the South China Sea between naval vessels from the United States and China has once again brought the contentious relationship between the two nations into the spotlight. While China's Defense Minister has expressed openness to dialogue with the United States, he has emphasized the importance of mutual respect as a precondition.

The encounter in the South China Sea, where a Chinese warship overtook a US guided-missile destroyer, sparked a war of words between the two nations. The US Indo-Pacific Command accused the Chinese ship of unsafe maneuvers, while China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended its actions as justified, lawful, safe, and professional. These incidents are not isolated occurrences but are part of a larger pattern of tensions arising from US Freedom of Navigation (FON) exercises in the region.

The US justifies its FON exercises based on Article 87(1)(a) of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea, even though it has refused to ratify the Convention itself. These exercises, seen as provocative by China, have heightened tensions in the region and contributed to a sense of mistrust between the two nations.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's response to the incident in Singapore did little to assuage these tensions. While he called for China to rein in such conduct, he failed to acknowledge the role of US military exercises in the vicinity of Chinese territorial waters. This one-sided approach only exacerbates the situation.

Defense Minister Li Shangfu's questioning of why incidents consistently occur near China and not near other countries raises important points. He emphasized that military vessels and aircraft should avoid coming close to Chinese waters and airspace to prevent such incidents. Li challenged the notion that the US navy and air force are simply conducting innocent FON exercises, arguing that they are provoking China instead.

It is worth noting that the United States has been building military alliances in the region aimed at containing China's influence. These alliances, including the Quad and various bilateral agreements, contribute to an environment of heightened tensions rather than fostering genuine dialogue and understanding.

For meaningful progress to be made in reducing tensions between China and the United States, mutual respect must be at the core of their communications. Both nations should strive to uphold the principles of sovereignty and engage in constructive dialogue that addresses concerns without resorting to inflammatory language or actions. The focus should shift from attempting to subordinate China to building a global alliance against it to finding common ground and fostering cooperation.

China's openness to dialogue should be reciprocated by the United States, but it must be accompanied by a genuine commitment to mutual respect. The path to easing tensions lies in recognizing and acknowledging each other's sovereignty and finding diplomatic solutions to disagreements. It is time for both nations to rise above rhetoric and work towards a more peaceful and constructive relationship that benefits not only themselves but the entire international community.