China Blames U.S. For Tensions in South China Sea; Philippines Seizes Chinese Vessel - China Warns They Will Retaliate

In an article on Reuters.com titled, China Blames U.S. For Stoking Tensions in South China Sea, the authors describe what seems to be the beginning of an even more strenuous relationship in the pacific between China, the Philippines, Japan and the United States.  According to the Chinese government, the United States is the provocateur in the South China Sea by encouraging other countries in the region to “engage in dangerous behavior.” Unfortunately, the Chinese government has no evidence of their claims, as there is ample evidence suggesting exactly the opposite.

On May 8, Chinese Coast Guard ships were photographed using water canons on Vietnamese ships in the South China Sea, yet China blames the United States for this situation because Vietnamese vessels were “intentionally colliding with its ships.” This is a metaphor, as no Vietnamese ships rammed Chinese vessels, but rather Chinese ships rammed no less than 8 Vietnamese Marine Guard ships on May 3, 2014.  China is blaming the United States for the increased bravery of smaller nations when faced with Chinese threats in the region. They might not be wrong.

Manipulation is a longstanding diplomatic tool utilized by the United States since World War II. The US has encouraged nations to fight back, discouraged nations from fighting, and even supplied arms legally and illegally to nations fighting against an enemy of the United States.

China’s Hua News Daily issued a statement labeling the United States as irresponsible, dangerous, wrong, and acting against peace and stability. This doesn’t sound like the United States – or does it?

In the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines seized a Chinese fishing boat that was in Philippine territorial waters and was hunting sea turtles – an endangered species.  China of course states that this is an illegal action, as those waters rightfully belong to China, not the Philippines.  The Filipino government issued a statement and evidence corroborating their assertion that the vessel was in Filipino territorial waters and shows the Chinese vessel hunting sea turtles just 60 miles off the coast of Palawan – a popular vacation spot for Westerners (including myself) in the Philippines.

Ironically, the seizure of the Chinese fishing boat was during the annual war games in the Philippines – a joint training exercise between about 5,500 American and Filipino marines.  I am sure there is more to come on this conflict soon.

Christopher M. Vacek