Opinion: Selling arms to Vietnam is to create trouble

Selling weapons to the region is a shortsighted action that can only deepen China’s suspicion of the US’ intentions, damage mutual trust and make new troubles in the South China Sea, says an article in the Beijing News. Excerpts:

The United States will sell weapons to Vietnam that can help it defend marine safety, an action marking the loosening of the ban on weapon deal with Vietnam since 1975. The US government also said at the same time it does not want to directly get involved in territory disputes, but has interest in maintaining peace and stability, and providing equipment to states having disputes over South China Sea for self-defense and deterring invasion. These are dangerous signs．

China has bilateral and multilateral mechanisms for peaceful solution and dialogue with the countries having territory disputes with it over the South China Sea. The arrival of the US weapons to the region not only ruins the consensuses reached by the countries, but also complicates the disputes and situations.

The US has clear intentions in providing weapons to the region. While it loosens the ban of selling arms to Vietnam, it insists on military embargo to China. The business is highly political, not neutral.

The close economic and trade ties between China and the Association of South East Asian Nations are China’s advantage in solving regional disputes and conflicts. Before the White House nodded to the weapon business with Vietnam, US actually has little solid pivot in its return to Asia, a move to contain China.

The pivot will not promote peace and stability, but ruin them, and will thwart the new model of relations to be constructed between China and the US. The US government reiterates the importance of the Sino-US ties at different occasions. The White House should match its deeds with its words, and stop the duplicity tricks.

If the US really attaches importance to the Sino-US ties, it should respect the core of the relations: mutual respect, non-conflict, non-confrontation, equality and mutual benefit.