China Voice: Drop fearmongering overSouth China Sea

BEIJING, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Despite China's repeated assertions on upholding peace in the South China Sea, rhetoric about China creating military threat in the region has been ratcheted up.

The most recent example is Philippine President Benigno Aquino's accusation thatChina's efforts to claim most of theSouth China Seashould "engender fear for the rest of the world."

Aside from the fact that the claim is groundless, using maritime disputes to peddle fear ofChinais irresponsible and of no value in settling the disputes. It is fearmongering for the sake of fear.

China's work on some of theNanshaIslandslandmasses in theSouth China Seafalls entirely within its sovereignty.

The root cause of the territorial disputes between the two countries isPhilippines' occupation since the 1970s of some of theNanshaIslands. It took them with force.

China's work on the islands mostly serves civil purposes apart from meeting the needs of military defense.Chinais aiming to provide shelter, aid in navigation, weather forecasts and fishery assistance to ships of various countries passing through the sea.

Moreover, as China embarks on building the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (MSR), the trade and infrastructure network that will connect China with Southeast Asian nations, Africa and Europe, it is more than willing to turn the South China Sea into a platform for cooperation.

Running contrary to this vision, the idea ofChinasealing off shipping lanes or thwarting fishing activities is but ill-intentioned speculation.

Aquino's vague expression that "there was no guarantee that shipping lanes vital to global trade would remain open" suggested he was making assumptions.

Worse, he used the assumptions to support another ungrounded assertion thatChina's activities should spark fear all around the world.

Touting "Chinafear" based on assumptions is an audacious move. However, thePhilippinesis emboldened as it is merely echoing messages coming from the United States.

Just days ago, Barack Obama accusedChinaof using its "sheer size and muscle" to bully smaller claimants such as thePhilippinesandVietnamin theSouth China Seadisputes.

ThePhilippineshas over the years appealed to the sympathy of the international community and military protection from theUnited States, and created the mirage thatChinais a bully.

The trick is easy to sell as it caters to theU.S.penchant of hyping fear ofChina's intentions, particularly in evidence as it worries needlessly over the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Fear will only escalate tension and rivalry.Chinaholds the position that the disputes should be settled through direct negotiation and candid dialogue.

Chinais moving in this direction, with a meeting earlier this month between Premier Li Keqiang and the chief of the Vietnamese Communist Party establishing consensus on handling the disputes. Enditem

（倒译稿）

中国声音：不要借南海问题兜售中国威胁论

    新华社北京4月16日电 尽管中国重申维护南海和平，但指责中国在这一地区制造军事威胁的论调却甚嚣尘上。

    菲律宾总统阿基诺最近的言论就是一个例子。他说中国试图占有南海大部分领域主权的努力会“引发各国恐惧”。

    且不论这样的指责毫无道理，利用南海争端来兜售对中国的恐惧是不负责任的，且对解决争端毫无益处。这纯粹是为恐惧而兜售恐惧。

    中国在南沙岛礁的建设完全是自己主权范围内的事情。

    上世纪70年代以来，菲律宾对中国南沙群岛部分岛礁实施武力侵占，这是中菲南海争议的核心和根源。

    中国在南沙岛礁的建设除满足必要的军事防卫需求外，更多的是服务于各种民事需求，包括为过往各国船只提供海上避难、航行援助、天气预报和渔业生产等服务。

    此外，中国正致力于建设“２１世纪海上丝绸之路”，这个贸易与基础设施网络将中国和东南亚国家、非洲以及欧洲联系起来。中国非常希望南海能够成为彼此间合作的平台。

    指责中国封锁国际航运线路、打击渔业活动完全是不怀好意的臆测，与中国加强合作的愿景背道而驰。

    阿基诺在指责中国时说“很难保证国际贸易的重要航道还会保持开放”。这样模棱两可的表述说明他也只是在做主观臆测。

    更糟糕的是，他就是用这样一个假设来支撑自己对中国毫无道理的指责：中国试图占有南海大部分领域主权的努力会“引发各国恐惧”。

    兜售基于臆测之上的中国威胁论可谓大胆鲁莽之举，如此大胆是因为菲律宾只是在附和美国传递的信息。

    就在几天前，贝拉克·奥巴马说，中国在用自己的“块头和肌肉”将南海争端中菲律宾和越南这样的小国“挤到一边”。

    菲律宾多年来都在寻求国际社会的同情和美国的军事保护，制造出中国欺凌弱小的假象。

    而这样的假象却很好兜售，因为这恰好迎合了美国一直以来渲染中国动机可疑的嗜好。美国近来又表现出对中国倡导亚投行多余的担忧，再次印证了这一点。

    但是恐惧只能加剧对抗与紧张。中国一贯主张以直接谈判和坦诚对话的形式解决争端。

    中国也会朝此方向努力。本月早些时候李克强总理和越南共产党领导人的会面便证明了这一点，双方已就应对南海争端达成了重要共识。（完）