China continues to escalate tensions in the South China Sea.

(Baonghean) - Amidst the escalating tensions in the South China Sea, which show no signs of abating after China illegally placed an oil rig on Vietnam's continental shelf, the country continues to take actions that further escalate the situation. Following its brazen publication of a vertical map "swallowing up" the entire South China Sea, Beijing today announced the establishment of a mechanism for regular patrols in the South China Sea.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing on June 26, Chinese Ministry of Defense spokesperson Yang Yujun asserted that the country's military has established a regular strategic patrol regime in the South China Sea, brazenly declaring this action to be "completely legal and legitimate" and part of China's overall work plan.

While continuously engaging in aggressive actions that escalate tensions in the South China Sea, China consistently denies responsibility and shifts blame to other countries. When questioned by reporters about whether recent Chinese military actions in the South China Sea are contributing to regional instability, the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Defense brazenly blamed the recent tensions in the South China Sea on "a few individual countries," while loudly threatening that "countries will bear all the consequences" if they continue to oppose China. Alongside this, Yang Yujun reiterated China's stance on resolving disputes in the South China Sea through direct bilateral negotiations between the countries involved, based on "respect for historical facts."

To downplay China's recent aggressive actions, Yang Yujun diverted public attention to other issues by criticizing Japan for promoting collective self-defense, expanding the role of its military, and expressing concern about the joint US-Philippines military exercises in the South China Sea starting on July 1st.

China's unilateral actions to enforce its baseless territorial claims in disputed waters not only increase tensions but also undermine its standing on the international stage. This was stated by US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel during a hearing on US-China relations held before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the morning of June 26 (Vietnam time).

During the hearing, Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel stated that China's neighbors in the Asia-Pacific region are deeply concerned about Beijing's increasingly assertive actions to advance and consolidate its territorial claims in the South China Sea and East China Sea. China's unilateral actions in these sensitive areas are escalating tensions and damaging its international standing. He emphasized that vital U.S. interests in the South China Sea and East China Sea, including freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce, respect for international law, and peaceful dispute resolution, are under threat. The US Assistant Secretary of State urged China, as a rising power, to demonstrate a high standard of conduct: “Chinese leaders have said they want a stable environment to focus on socio-economic development. China has not achieved stability and peace, but instead has created real tension in its relations with other countries. Therefore, the first priority is to uphold restraint, and great powers have a greater responsibility to exercise restraint.” According to Daniel Russel, deliberately ignoring diplomatic and peaceful means, and instead resorting to economic or military coercion in resolving disagreements and disputes, is dangerous and destabilizing. The US wants countries, including China, to control or resolve sovereignty claims through peaceful and diplomatic means. Disputes can also be resolved through a third party, as in the case of the Philippines suing China in international arbitration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Daniel Russel stated that US Secretary of State John Kerry will attend the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Myanmar next August and will conduct extensive discussions on a number of substantive confidence-building measures and crisis prevention solutions, including establishing a hotline and agreements to resolve unexpected incidents on the spot.

At the hearing, Aaron L. Friedberg, a professor of politics and international relations at Princeton University, argued that China is deliberately creating dangerous situations to force other countries to back down. But even if this isn't truly China's intention, such behavior could easily lead to confrontation and escalating tensions. "In the long run, China's assertiveness could be counterproductive and ineffective. If neighboring Asian countries respond by strengthening their capabilities and cooperating more closely with each other and with the U.S., they could counter China's ambitions and create a balance of power," said Aaron L. Friedberg.

However, according to Professor Aaron L. Friedberg, if the U.S. does not respond effectively, China could still successfully implement its "divide and conquer" strategy, which means continuing to threaten and force concessions from some neighboring countries, while isolating and demoralizing others, and increasing pressure on key targets, including Vietnam and especially U.S. allies such as Japan and the Philippines.

Besides the views of the US political establishment, international public opinion continues to strongly condemn China's behavior, especially after the Chinese government published a new map with 10 segments, encompassing almost the entire South China Sea. Scholars believe that China is using this new map to test the reaction of its neighbors, who have territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea. If no country reacts strongly, this will be an opportunity for the Chinese government to officially legitimize the map. However, Charles Jose, spokesperson for the Philippine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, countered that China's vertical map clearly violates international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and reflects China's expansionist policy that is causing tension in the South China Sea.

International media outlets continue to expose China's plot to annex the South China Sea. On June 24, the Russian newspaper Lenta published an article alleging that China is undertaking an unusual plan to build artificial islands, simultaneously with the deployment of the Haiyang-981 oil rig in waters under Vietnam's sovereignty. Meanwhile, the Philippine Inquirer yesterday quoted a maritime law expert as asserting that China is seeking to "establish dominance" in the South China Sea through land reclamation on coral reefs to transform them into artificial islands.

In light of China's recent actions, Professor Jerome Cohen of the U.S.-Asia Law Institute at New York University School of Law warns that China may turn to the United Nations Security Council to have the International Arbitration Court temporarily suspend consideration of cases against it.

Thu Ha