More and more Chinese citizens are incensed that the United States and South Korea will hold joint military drills in the Yellow Sea at the end of this month. The feelings of Chinese people must be respected if the United States sincerely wishes to safeguard the stability and prosperity of the western Pacific.
The latest online survey by the Web site of the Global Times shows 96 percent of Chinese netizens believe it poses a threat to China that the U.S. aircraft carrier George Washington, as a symbol of the country’s military power, may take part in the joint drills. And thousands of Internet users expressed their dissatisfaction and said they “could not calm down” when an expert said that Chinese should be face this calmly.
Chinese are upset that the United States finds faults in China’s military and it always nitpicks China.
The United States may believe that since it conducted military drills in the Yellow Sea in the past, it can do that now and in the future. But the United States should understand, with China’s increasing national strength, Chinese nationals will get more sensitive to the provocative actions the U.S. navy takes in a place so close to their home.
No one would allow its competitor with guns in hand to wander in front of their home or keep a close watch staring through their windows, and the Americans would not too.
China does not object to the U.S. navy’s presence in the western Pacific and even shows understanding that some countries in this region still need the U.S. military to provide a sense of security. And no country has the capability to replace the United States in this capacity. But, this does not mean the United States can ignore China’s self-esteem and drive their aircraft carrier straight to the front of China’s doorstep to flex their muscles.
Only when the United States learns to respect the western Pacific countries and adapt to the changes of their politics, economies and, in particular, public opinion, can its authority in this region be recognized. The United States should make people feel that the U.S. military presence in this region is peaceful and necessary, not vice versa.
Furthermore, the United States needs to take into account these countries’ moods if it wants to become a peacemaker, not a troublemaker. Otherwise, the United States will have difficulties in staying in the region for a long time and its interests here will be difficult to effectively protect.
China never considers the United States an enemy, but the United States should show necessary respect to China. The provocative military drill will only lead to the accumulation of resentment against the United States in the hearts of Chinese people and the United States will inevitably be regarded as a threat.
Both sides should cherish the bilateral ties and pay heed to the feelings of the two peoples. Don’t let risky moves destroy the mutual trust of the two peoples. If the future U.S. strategy is to learn respect and equality, as Barack Obama has said, then the military actions in the western Pacific region must be restrained and provocation must not be allowed to happen again.
