2022-11-22 16:14:00

Global Times editorial: US Vice Presidents visit t

Vice President Harris of the United States is visiting the Philippines, and one of the itineraries has been made many articles by American public opinion. She plans to go to Palawan Island on November 22, next to China's the Nansha Islands, which is called "the forefront of the maritime sovereignty dispute between the Philippines and China" by the US media. Harris will therefore become the highest level American official to visit the border island of the Philippines, where she will also visit the maritime patrol department of the Philippines.

The pictures and texts taken by Liu Jie, a reporter from Xinhua News Agency, are irrelevant

However, Harris's goal of this trip was obviously not limited to strengthening the bilateral relations between the United States and the Philippines, but more focused on the "arch fire" issue in the South China Sea. Even the American media have admitted that Harris's landing on the island of Palawan as Vice President is "very symbolic" and is "transmitting American intentions to China". Some American analysts talk that this move may "irritate" China, or "cause a moderate sense of frustration to Beijing" and so on. It may be true that Americans hope to achieve this effect, but they do not know anything about China. If you really want to ask us what we think of Harris's visit, it is to further increase the impression that the United States has said one thing and done another, as well as China's determination to be self reliant, which is all true.

We certainly do not oppose the US side's exchanges with countries in the region. Palawan is a territory of the Philippines, which has the right to receive any foreign visitors. We want to emphasize that no bilateral exchanges can be conducted at the expense of the interests of third countries and regional peace and stability. Against the background that Philippine President Marcos has repeatedly said that "the maritime issue cannot define the entire Philippines China relationship", Harris's visit is more like trying to put the line of fire that provokes the South China Sea conflict in the hands of the Philippines. To tell the truth, this is really not authentic.

The South China Sea issue has always affected the sensitive nerves of all parties and is also vulnerable to external interference. Washington stirred up trouble here a few years ago, trying to create a situation where countries around the South China Sea jointly confront China. But with the joint efforts of countries in the region, the sea area has maintained overall stability, and China and other countries around the South China Sea have strengthened their willingness and ability to control differences. At present, China Philippines comprehensive strategic cooperative relations have made important progress in various fields, and the two sides have reached a strategic consensus on friendly consultations and proper settlement of differences and disputes on the South China Sea and other issues. When attending the 77th United Nations General Assembly in New York, Marcos also said that the Philippines intended to restart negotiations with China on joint oil and gas development in the South China Sea.

However, there is no end to the desire to calm the wind. Washington has regarded the South China Sea as one of the strategic game points against China. Its goal in this region is not to let the situation cool down, or even to promote escalation, encourage countries in the region to take provocative actions against China, and stimulate their impulse to be tough with China. Harris's visit to Palawan is of such a nature. If Washington, as President Biden said, "avoids and prevents (the United States and China) from becoming confrontations or even conflicts due to misunderstanding, misjudgment or fierce competition", similar encouragement and small actions should be completely put aside.

Many observers believe that after the summit, there has been a window of opportunity for China US relations to stabilize. On the occasion of Harris's visit to the Philippines, news of progress in China US exchanges in military, economic and trade, climate and other important areas was reported. US Trade Representative Dai Qi met with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao last Friday, the first time she has met with senior Chinese officials since taking office. In addition, Xie Zhenhua, China's special envoy on climate change, recently revealed that the climate consultation between China and the United States is very constructive. The US Defense Minister Austin also released information many times, hoping to seek high-level dialogue with the Chinese military to "manage the crisis".

China and the United States are resuming high-level dialogues in various fields, and we also look forward to substantive progress in stabilizing relations between the two militaries. However, what is more important is that to promote the stability and recovery of China US relations, the US side needs to take credible actions to implement President Biden's "five no four no intention" commitment. If Washington continues to encircle and suppress China in the name of "competition", it is obviously impossible to force China to "swallow its pride" by using the term "control competition".

As for the complexity of China US relations, not only China and the US, but also countries in the Asia Pacific region and even the whole world need to have a full understanding and corresponding strategic arrangements. Those target countries that have been "selected" by the United States should be more sober and calm to prevent them from falling into trap.

Source: Global Times

Process Editing: tf030