U.S.

Pivot to Asia responsible for

tensions in S. China Sea, says Beijing
ATUL ANEJA

Washingtons
actions in the
region make us feel
that it is provoking
tensions, raise a big
question mark over
its motives

BEIJING: China has slammed the

Pivot to Asia doctrine of the

United States, blaming it for
the growing tensions the
South China Sea, where a trilateral exercise involving
New Delhi, Washington, and
Tokyo is scheduled later this
year.
On Friday, the war of words
between China and the U.S.
escalated when Fu Ying, the
spokesperson for the National
Peoples
Conference
(NPC), countered the U.S. assertion that China was responsible for the militarisation of the South China Sea.
She pointed out that instead,
it was Washingtons naval
build up under the Pivot to
Asia doctrine, which was the
root cause of tensions in the
Asia-Pacific.
Talking about militarisation, if we look at those advance ships and aircraft exiting from and entering into the
South China Sea, arent the
majority of them from the
United States? Ms. Fu queried. The Chinese official
stressed, that the Pivot to
Asia was an important decision, which enabled Washington to deploy as many as
70 per cent of its naval force in
the Asia-Pacific.
China claims sovereignty
over most of South China Sea,
a position that is contested by
several countries including
Vietnam, Philippines and Taiwan. It has recently accelerat-

China claims sovereignty over most of South China Sea, a

position that is contested by several countries. Picture shows
soldiers from China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) in
the Spratly Islands. PHOTO: REUTERS

ed conversion of some of the

disputed reefs into artificial
islands, and positioned surface-to-air missiles at Woody
Island in the Paracel island
chain.
In her lengthy riposte, Ms.
Fu stressed that a big question
mark has now arisen over the
U.S. motives in the South China Sea. The U.S. has claimed
that it takes no position on the
dispute on the disputes of the
Nansha [Spratly] islands. But
what it is doing and saying
now makes us feel that it is
provoking tensions and so we
have a big question mark on
the motives of the U.S. side.
Regional security provider
The spokesperson stressed
that China was ready to play
the role of a regional security
provider. Ms. Fu said that Chi-

na was ready to seek joint development of the Nansha islands, but that is on the
prerequisite of not giving up
our sovereignty. She added,
The Chinese people will not
agree if we allow further impairment of our sovereign
rights and maritime rights
and interests. By developing
these islands and reefs, we
will help better protect Chinas own interests, make China better provide public services to this region and to
uphold peace and stability in
this region.
Ms. Fus remarks follow assertions by Admiral Harry B.
Harris during the course of
the Raisina dialogue in New
Delhi, where, in a veiled reference to China, he asserted
that, While some countries
seek to bully smaller nations

through intimidation and coercion, I note with admiration

Indias example of peaceful
resolution of disputes with
your neighbours in the waters
of the Indian Ocean.
The U.S. Admiral also revealed that that the forthcoming Malabar naval exercise
comprising India, U.S. and Japan would be held in the
north Philippine Sea, not far
from the South China Sea. Besides, he called for Washingtons inclusion in a strategic
dialogue, which has so far
been held among India, Japan
and Australia.
In Beijing, China addressed
Admiral Harris assertions
with restraint: We have no
objection to relevant countries normal cooperation, but
we believe that relevant cooperation should not be targeted
at a third party, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman,
Hong Lei observed. He added:
We hope that cooperation
among relevant countries will
contribute to regional peace,
stability and security, and no
harm shall be done to the interests of third parties.