Communication Helps to Build Trust

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Communication Helps to Build Trust

Editor's Note： On June 1，Cui Tiankai，Chinese Ambassador to the United States，posted a signed article，entitled “How to Bridge the Divide Over the South China Sea，” on Bloomberg's website.An edited version of the article follows：

The differences between China and the United States over the South China Sea issue have become a matter of concern and even anxiety.

But some perceptions in the United States and elsewhere about China's policy and intentions in the area are misplaced.

A pressing task is to understand the facts and China's intentions correctly so as to avoid real danger and consequences as a result of misinterpretation and miscalculation.

The issues in the South China Sea revolve around territorial and maritime jurisdiction.China believes it is doing nothing more than maintaining and defending legitimate territorial claims and maritime rights.Reclamation and construction works have taken place on islands and reefs that have long been under China's control，and many of the facilities are for civilian purposes and public good，such as navigation and rescue services，emergency relief，scientific research，and environmental protection.

There are limited defense facilities，but they do not represent a “militarization” of the area.We believe that recent statements and military deployments by the United States have had the effect of escalating tension in the region and，if not curbed，risk the very militarization we all wish to avoid.

Some people have called on China to abide by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea，and to agree to international arbitration，which was initiated by the Philippines.

But these same people are denying China's rights under the convention.Our view is that the convention does not cover sovereignty and territorial issues—yet the very subject of the arbitration is territorial sovereignty.

China will therefore neither participate in nor accept the arbitration，for we maintain that the tribunal has no jurisdiction in this realm.

Besides，it is ironic that the United States seeks to use against us a UN convention that it itself has refused to ratify.

The concept of freedom of navigation is frequently used to justify actions by the United States in the South China Sea.

This is an additional irony.The United States has used “freedom-of-navigation” operations to challenge the very concept as it was defined by the convention，believing treaty provisions would restrict its navy's ability to move freely around the world.

Worst of all，China's policy on the South China Sea has been grossly misperceived as a strategic move to challenge U.S.dominance in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

Some people even go so far as to raise the idea of a so-called Asian version of the Monroe Doctrine.

However，China believes that the concept of sphere of influence is out-of-date in the 21st century.China consistently strives for regional cooperation，and we respect America's tradi-tional presence and legitimate interests in the Asia-Pacific region.

The reality is not that China is trying to drive anyone out，but that there are attempts to deny China's legitimate and expanding interests in its own region.

Indeed，China has long called for peaceful and direct negotiations directly with relevant claimant states to manage and eventually resolve the South China Sea disputes.

This remains unchanged—just as we remain open to working to forge a code of conduct for the region with the 10 ASEAN（Association of Southeast Asian Nations）countries.

China-U.S.relations are too important for us to allow them to be hijacked by the South China Sea issue.

We may have major differences，but we also share important interests，including maintaining regional peace and stability，supporting freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law，and resolving disputes through peaceful negotiations and diplomatic dialogue.

The region should not become a competing ground for China and the United States.

In fact，we have significant potential for cooperation in this region and beyond.Witness our coast guards，which patrolled jointly to enforce the fishery rules in the western Pacific.

The good news is that leaders in China and the United States have demonstrated the political will to manage our differences and keep them under control.

We continue to talk.We on the Chinese side are ready to work in a constructive manner—and we are hopeful that the United States will demonstrate the same spirit.■

Copyedited by Dominic James Madar

Comments to liuyunyun@bjreview.com

A flag-raising ceremony is held on the Chinese Navy's Jinggangshan dock landing ship，which was patrolling in the South China Sea，on January 1

China's Justified Rights In the South China Sea

Editor's Note： The following is a letter from Zhu Haiquan，Press Counselor and Spokesman of the Chinese Embassy in the United States，to the editorial page of The Wall Street Journal （WSJ），which was published on June 10 in response to WSJ's editorial titled “South China Sea Challenge”on June 3.

Regarding your editorial “South China Sea Challenge” （June 3），the origin of the South China Sea disputes is not China's territorial ambition but instead the illegal seizure and occupation of Chinese territory by other countries.

The islands and shoals in the South China Sea have long been a part of Chinese territory.After World War II，China restored its sovereignty over them from the Japanese invasion and illegal occupation in accordance with the Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Proclamation，an act upholding postwar rules.But since the 1970s，42 out of 51 land features in the Nansha Islands have been invaded and illegally occupied by other countries.

The 1898 Treaty of Paris，the 1900 Treaty of Washington and the 1930 Convention Between the United States and Great Britain defined the western limit of the Philippine's territory as 118 east longitude，reaffirmed by the Philippine Constitution in 1935.China's islands and reefs in the South China Sea，including Huangyan Island，are all west of that line.

These historic rights are not superseded by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea （UNCLOS）.In fact，UNCLOS respects the historic rights that predate it and are continuously claimed.By not accepting or participating in the arbitration unilaterally initiated by the Philippines，China is simply exercising its legitimate sovereign rights under UNCLOS.

China has already signed border treaties through peaceful negotiations with 12 out of 14 of its land neighbors.The same practice should be adopted in the South China Sea.

U.S.military operations in the South China Sea only fuel tensions.The moves suggested by this editorial are even more reckless and alarming.No country's interests are served by turning the South China Sea into a geopolitical arena for competition.

The United States often emphasizes the importance of reducing tension and maintaining the space necessary for a diplomatic solution.We hope the United States will match its words with deeds.