Pompeo's statement shows that the US' policy in the South China Sea has changed from military pressure into a comprehensive suppression combining military action and hyping public opinion. This is an escalation of the US' tactical pressure on China, and especially on the South China Sea issue.
If the US Navy tries to exclude China from multilateral consultation frameworks or takes a hostile approach toward China, the South China Sea may become even more insecure and unstable. Under such circumstances, the US will be the one to blame.
China should keep upholding its independent foreign policy of peace. China promotes peaceful negotiations with India, Japan and other countries to resolve their border and maritime disputes. It remains to be seen whether the US, Japan and Australia could rope in India for their strategic calculations to contain China. After all, India may carefully consider the alliances against China and may not easily agree to the US-Japan-Australia alliance's request.
It is hoped the Modi administration can overcome the entrenched anti-China sentiment in Indian political and media arenas – they would embrace amicable bilateral relations for pragmatic and mutually beneficial solutions.
However, experts also wondered: How India will pursue it neighborhood first policy in the presence of “coercive diplomacy?” As it was not fashionable nor in the interests of New Delhi's Western partners, nobody debated it or tried to decode it. BJP and Indian elites perceived it as an opportunity and started to pursue the agenda of a Greater India. It started to interfere with regional countries under the slogan of “Akhand Bharat.”
Current rise of Hindu nationalism is rare in history, as India faces no foreign invasion or bullying now. The core of this rising nationalism is to build a big country of Hinduism. Indians believe they have to win over China before they can achieve this goal.
When the US violates China's sovereignty, territory or maritime interests (such as sailing within 12 nautical miles of Chinese territories), China must make tough and firm responses.
In the more than 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, China has enjoyed vigorous economic development, consolidated national defense and enhanced military strength. Yet it has not invaded or occupied an inch of land of any other country.
How might China cope with ASEAN's stronger assertions and the increased pressure from Vietnam and Indonesia over the South China Sea?
Moselmane, a fair-minded politician, unfortunately fell prey to the anti-China hysteria in Australia. Such an inimical Cold War-style atmosphere has sadly agitated Australia – stemming from Washington's McCarthyist witch hunts and toxic diplomacy.
In India, catering to ultra-nationalistic sentiments has become a handy tool for political actors to fish in troubled waters, however, it may bring severe consequences to regional orders. All of India's neighbors are watching and wondering now where the right-wing forces will lead the country.
India should be reminded that if it loosens controls on the border for troops, this could lead to armed conflict. Given India's underdeveloped infrastructure and logistical shortcoming, it will bear bitter consequences in the face of the well-equipped and highly capable Chinese People's Liberation Army.
The author is deputy director with the College of ASEAN Studies at Guangxi University for Nationalities and a senior research fellow at the Charhar Institute. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn
The Chinese have the final say of what kind of a country China is. Western media might well be reminded that they should, and need as well, to report on China's changes with a more inclusive and open manner. Indeed, they might find inspiration and fresh understandings of China if they travel to Beijing's outskirts, to such suburban districts as Huairou, Miyun, or Yanqing.
A country's ambition should match its own strength. To pursue the status as a major power and expand regional influence, a country's own national strength must be a decisive factor. No country can be great by relying on another country. A country may only hurt itself by opportunistically seeking ambitions that far exceed their actual national abilities.
Halting the deployment plan of Aegis Ashore seems like a trivial matter, but it shows that the alliance between Washington and Tokyo is not as solid as it might appear.
There is no reason for China and India to go to war again.
This G11 or G12 is probably a publicity stunt that aims at creating an anti-China opinion sphere, but really will not have expected outcomes. South Korea bows to the US rashly and is choosing to pick the side of the US amid China-US conflicts. This is not a wise choice and will jeopardize China-South Korea relations.