It has been reported that US Navy Captain James Fanell, deputy chief of staff for intelligence and information operations for the US Pacific Fleet, recently said in public, "China is knowingly, operationally and incrementally seizing the maritime rights of its neighbors under the rubric of a maritime history that is not only contested in the international community but has largely been fabricated by Chinese government propaganda bureaus. China's Marine Surveillance is a full-time maritime sovereignty harassment organization."

These words coming from the top intelligence officer of the US Pacific Fleet expose either ignorance or lies.

It is a reality that China has sovereignty disputes and maritime delimitation issues with neighboring countries. But when did China "fabricate" evidence? If Fanell cannot show proof of this, can we view his words as base slander?

China's Marine Surveillance has a legitimate right to patrol in waters under Chinese jurisdiction.

Patrol in areas in which there are overlapping claims is also in accordance with international common practice.

Was Fanell unable to distinguish "sovereignty" from the waters under Chinese jurisdiction, or was his intelligence gathering team on holiday? 

Fanell's depiction of China as a bully on the high seas is even more ridiculous. China's Marine Surveillance, under the State Oceanic Administration, is a law enforcement team working inside territorial waters.

It is responsible for maintaining the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity while investigating illegal activities such as the destruction of offshore facilities and negative impacts on marine development.

In addition, the protection of the marine environment and islands and management of maritime space are also its responsibilities.

In contrast with the US Coast Guard, China's Marine Surveillance vessels are not equipped with heavy weapons such as ship-based artillery, let alone offensive weapons such as ship-to-ship or ship-to-air missiles.

The Japan Coast Guard, Philippine Maritime Police and Vietnam Maritime Police are all equipped with automatic guns.

China's Marine Surveillance is an administrative law enforcement agency with rifles, while maritime police in those countries are in active duty military operation and equipped with artillery and even missiles. Who is really in a position to bully whom?

China's Marine Surveillance adopts a relatively mild approach of law enforcement.

During law enforcement operations, it states China sovereignty stance first. Generally speaking, there is no boarding or attacking of foreign ships.

In contrast, the US Coast Guard often boards foreign ships to check on cargo, and the Japan Coast Guard has sunk foreign vessels.

The Huangyan Island dispute in 2012 was caused by a Philippine warship arresting and illegally detaining Chinese fishermen. Even when the Philippines dispatched warships, China still sent only marine surveillance vessels, without intention of making things escalate.

Since the Diaoyu Islands dispute in 2012, China's Marine Surveillance kept patrolling around the islands. However, enforcement vessels and armed forces from Japan around the Diaoyu Islands were much better equipped than China Marine Surveillance. It is impossible that Fanell didn't know these basic facts. 

As a senior intelligence officer, he is advising the US military's top decision-makers.

We are certain of the excellent intelligence gathering skills of Fanell's team, as well as his sufficient understanding of the history of sea disputes in East Asia. Yet, his words attempt to deceive those who don't know the truth.

Former US president Abraham Lincoln once said, "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time." Fanell should remember these wise words.

The author is an assistant researcher of China Institute for Marine Affairs, State Oceanic Administration. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn