In recent years, the South China Sea has often been embroiled in discussions about so-called “freedom of navigation” and “threats to maritime safety.” The United States, in particular, has frequently used “freedom of navigation” as a pretext for demonstrating military might and conducting joint naval exercises.
In a recent interview with a reporter from China News Service, Yang Xiao, an expert on maritime affairs from the China Institute of Modern International Relations, asserted that the U.S. stance on “freedom of navigation” is primarily aimed at preserving its own maritime hegemony. Yang pointed out that the U.S. consistently encourages and supports allies like the Philippines to provoke incidents in the South China Sea, even participating directly in these tensions, which poses a serious threat to regional peace and stability.
He highlighted that the U.S. military conducts around 100 operations each year close to Chinese airspace, often within 30 nautical miles of China’s territorial waters. For instance, on December 8, 2022, a U.S. P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft flew over the Taiwan Strait, coming within 13 nautical miles of China’s territorial sea baseline near Fuzhou, effectively nearing Chinese airspace.
According to a recent report from the “South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative,” the increasing aggressiveness of U.S. reconnaissance activities against China has been masked as “freedom of navigation” operations aimed at Southeast Asian coastal nations. Yang posed a critical question: what is the U.S.’s actual intention behind this? He noted that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a cornerstone of modern maritime order, remains unsigned by the U.S., which often chooses to apply or disregard it selectively.
Yang emphasized the fundamental difference between the U.S. interpretation of “freedom of navigation” and the true concept as defined by international law. “The U.S. seeks more rights than others while rejecting equitable sharing of maritime rights among nations,” he explained. “At its core, this is about maintaining its own maritime hegemony for self-serving purposes.”
According to the U.S. Department of Defense’s report on “freedom of navigation” for fiscal year 2023, from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023, the U.S. challenged 29 “excessive maritime claims” from 17 countries, including China. Chinese defense spokesman Senior Colonel Wu Qian has sharply criticized this, asserting that “freedom does not equate to recklessness” and that China firmly opposes the so-called “freedom of navigation” when it infringes on the sovereignty and safety of coastal nations.
Yang further discussed the U.S.’s strategy in the South China Sea, noting that, for a significant period after implementing its “freedom of navigation” program, the focal points of U.S. military challenges were Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines, rather than China. Over the past decade, however, the spotlight has shifted more toward China. He linked this strategic shift to the U.S. government’s “Pivot to Asia” and “Rebalance to Asia” strategies across different administrations, which have increasingly complicated the regional situation.
On one hand, the U.S. has been encouraging certain countries to provoke tensions in the South China Sea. Yang pointed out that for some time now, the U.S. has provided intelligence support and conducted military interventions encouraging the Philippines to assert its claims, effectively backing illegal assertions regarding maritime rights. He noted that the current Philippine administration has adopted a more confrontational stance, avoiding dialogue and undermining previous agreements, complicating issues further, which ultimately could hinder the Philippines’ economic development and impact the livelihoods of its people.
In contrast, China has consistently promoted dialogue and negotiations with relevant parties to address differences and maintain overall stability in the South China Sea. Yang stated, “Open communication and negotiation can help preserve regional peace and stability. Abandoning dialogue only creates troubles for oneself and neighboring countries.”
On the other hand, some external nations, led by the U.S., are trying to form factions to interfere in the South China Sea situation. Yang pointed out that the U.S. has actively rallied Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and some European nations into small blocs like the Quad (U.S., Japan, India, and Australia). These countries, not directly related to the South China Sea, frequently engage in provocative maritime actions, exacerbating tensions.
Conversely, China and ASEAN countries have been working continuously to promote peace and stability in the region. Countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam have been engaging with China to resolve issues through dialogue. “So, who truly advocates for peace and cooperation, and who engages in provocation and disruption? The world should see this clearly,” Yang stressed, “and this remains one of the greatest challenges to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea.”
