VietNamNet
Bridge – It is incumbent on
Southeast Asian countries to be stronger and more self-confident in the face of
a rising China.
It is
noteworthy that the US Secretary of State stated in 2010, at ART 17 , that the
United States has national interests in the East Sea. At the same time, our
northern neighbor has shown itself to be increasingly belligerent, especially
since 2007.
Some
points to consider:
1. Every
country, first and foremost the neighboring countries, follow different ways of
approaching China, depending on the position and the vision of the leadership
of the country. However, to some extent, the countries’ behaviors also depend
on how the powerful countries, including the US and Japan, approach China.
The
strong rise of China is something to be expected in the progress of mankind.
China, the most populous country in the world, was once the cradle of
civilization, but experienced difficult days in the recent past. Chinese
leaders have repeatedly sworn that, as their country rises and gains more
strength, China will have the good sense to help make the world safer and
settle the humankind’s problems.
But
what do they do in reality?
The
Chinese leader known as the father of the modern reform in China conferred to
the next generation of leaders a principle of ruling – hide and wait for the
reasonable time to make your move. In other words, China’s goals and tricks
will never change, but it needs to choose the right time to take actions.
Modern
Chinese politicians, military generals and businessmen always refer to Sun
Tzu’s book, “The Art of War”, as the guideline for all of their actions. They
have deep belief in the arts of war and proficiently utilize the tactics in all
aspects of their political, social and international relations.
In
other words, in today’s civilized world, the modern Chinese administration is
willing to apply any and all tactics, including brutal, deceptive ones, to
achieve its goals.
In the
past, China, together with India and Indonesia once established “five
principles for peaceful coexistence”. However, it later broke the principles,
igniting a border war with India and occupying tens of thousands of square
kilometers of Indian land.
China
has also sought to foster opposition forces in most of the friendly and
neighboring countries, ones which will cause turmoil in those countries when
China deems it necessary.
The
current development of China has been described in benign, diplomatic terms,
such as the “rise of China”, “China’s rehabilitation”, or the “realization of
the Chinese dream”. However, those who have deep knowledge of traditional
Chinese political culture are all too aware of what China’ leaders are striving to achieve.
Chinese
leadership always nurtures the “rehabilitation” dream. But “rehabilitation”
does not simply mean regaining China’s former place in the world, it means
achieving the goals that wildly ambitious Chinese emperors set forth in their
craziest dreams.
Chinese
emperors believed that they were the “sons of God” and that, therefore, all the
world’s lands rightfully belonged to them. China was the center of the world,
while other nations were its vassals. Other nations must accept this fact or be
punished.
Chinese
people of different generations have been brainwashed into believing that they
belong to a preeminent nation. Chinese diplomatic policies under the different
“dynasties” of Mao, Deng, Jiang, Hu and Xi Jinping have all been imbued with
this mindset.
The
Chinese carriage is marching forwards swiftly, raising big fears among
progressive people in the world. Will it collide with something in its way and
cause terrible accidents? Will the Chinese steamroller grind humankind’s
achievements under its wheels?
People
have every reason to be worried. In fact, the carriage has damaged many things
already, including spiritual and cultural values, and natural living
environments.
China,
which, in the eyes of other countries, was a “friend”, has turned out to be a
country with crazy ambitions, a greedy, cunning, selfish country which is
willing to use all possible tricks to reach its goals, from corrupting the
leaderships of other nations, plundering natural resources, devastating others’
living environments, imposing economic pressure, and funding conflicts, to
threatening to use armed force.
2. It
is not only Vietnam and neighboring countries that can see the worrying signs
in the region as China rises.
After a
lot of preparations, China, arrogantly and blatantly using all means it can,
associated by the armed force, has deployed a drilling rig in the Vietnamese
exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, and built a military base on the
Fiery Cross and Johnson Reef areas.
These
moves by China are just a couple of steps in its broad strategy to legalize its
fabricated “nine-dashed line”, and obtain hegemony over the East Sea, while
continuing to nurture its wild ambition of world hegemony.
Experts
have warned that this could be a detonator that may cause a destructive
conflict that engulfs the world in the near future. Let it not be forgotten
that the last century’s two world wars, which caused incalculable destruction
to humankind, were ignited by the wild ambitions of ruling powers and the
narrow- mindedness of politicians.
China
has waged wars against most of its neighboring countries, big and small, and
has ignited disputes in territorial waters with tens of Southeast and East
Asian countries.
If
someone can reasonably link the events in the past, he will realize that the
Chinese have laid timer mines for most of the international relations.
3.
However, while everyone understands that it is necessary to prevent China from
achieving its wild ambition on hegemony, it will be not easy to do this, for
various reasons.
The
foremost reason is that, in relations with China, every country strives to
realize its own benefits. Therefore, countries conduct different behaviors
towards China.
Small
countries, though being blocked by China, dare not join forces with counterpoised
countries to oppose China, because they fear that one day they would be
sacrificed by the countries.
Some
other countries, not yet in direct conflict with China, have supported Chinese
policies in exchange for various benefits offered by China.
Even
powerful countries are also influenced by China, and therefore try to avoid
confrontation with China in international issues. West European countries once
tasted Chinese-styled economic sanctions in retaliation for activities China
disliked.
These
countries include Norway which, in a move opposed by the Chinese
administration, granted a Noble Prize to a Chinese political dissident, and
France, which traded with Taiwan.
The US,
a powerful country, is fully aware of the risks of China’s ascension, which may
threaten its current position in the world’s arena. However, it stills need
more time and preparation to deal with the problem.
Experts
have commented that China has exposed its warlike manner at this time because
it thinks that the rest of the world will not join forces and achieve enough
strength to prevent it from implementing its hegemonic dream.
In
2010, the Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister asserted amongst representatives of
the other countries, including the US, at ART 17, that China is a big country,
bigger than any country present at the conference.
Those
arrogant words were quoted by H. Clinton in her memoirs.
Prior
to that time, China suggested that it and the US would share the Asia Pacific,
with the western part belonging to China, according to Timothy Keating, the US
Navy Commander.
Bui Duc
Lai
Business & Investment Opportunities
Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd (SBC) is incorporated
in Singapore since 1994.
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