Former U.S. Official: Don’t Mistake Support on South China Sea

[nufix]

Former U.S. Official: Don’t Mistake Support on South China Sea

A former senior U.S. defense official viewed as a possible successor to Leon Panetta as defense secretary said the Philippines has recently mistaken U.S. renewed engagement in the region as an opportunity to more assertively pursue territorial claims against China.

Michèle Flournoy, who served as undersecretary for defense policy until February 2012, said last month while the U.S. needed to send clear signals of support for its allies in the region, it also needed to ensure that support didn’t lead allies to act provocatively.

Naming the Philippines specifically, she said there was a risk of Manila “mistaking U.S. support for an opportunity to be much more assertive in staking their claims. I think we have to be careful that we don’t feed that dynamic.”

The comments by Ms. Flournoy came during a question-and-answer session at Australian National University on Nov. 29. Video of the remarks was posted on YouTube this week.

“I do think there is a danger of some of our friends occasionally misreading, or miscalculating, in terms of the support that they have from the United States,” Ms. Flournoy added.


Tensions between China and the Philippines escalated rapidly this year over longstanding territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Many feared a prolonged spring standoff between Chinese and Philippine government vessels in the sea’s disputed Scarborough Shoal would trigger conflict.

The standoff eventually drew down peacefully, but revived questions over what the U.S. would do in the event of an armed China-Philippines clash. The U.S. is obligated to protect the Philippines by a 1951 mutual-defense pact. It remains unclear, however, whether a conflict in disputed territory would trigger the U.S. to act in defense of its Asian ally.

The U.S. has repeatedly said it doesn’t take sides in territorial disputes, a point Ms. Flournoy reiterated during her Australia comments.

The sea is claimed in whole or in part by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. It’s home to critical shipping lanes and is also believed to hold rich oil-and-gas deposits. Estimates on resource deposits vary widely, anywhere from 28 billion barrels of oil or less to as much as 213 billion barrels, according to some accounts. The ongoing tensions, however, have stunted resource development in the South China Sea.

–Brian Spegele.

Former U.S. Official: Don't Mistake Support on South China Sea - China Real Time Report - WSJ

Let's say what the former u.s official says represents the big part of u.s officials view towards S.C.S, it actually makes sense, u.s won't drag itself into great pacific war part 2, the u.s didn't join ww2 before it was attacked by the nazi and the imperial of japan. I think u.s actually doesn't want to get involved and caught between two countries with their own agenda. Well, every country claims some part or the whole part of S.C.S for it self right? If u.s joins the conflict, u.s will benefit less than what was sacrificed. Looks like every claimants, should prepare their own war, especially for Philippines..

 

[SinoChallenger]

Looks like the pivot they boasted about is quietly put to rest Pinoys now face China's missile arsenal all alone.

 

[nufix]

Looks like the pivot they boasted about is quietly put to rest Pinoys now face China's missile arsenal all alone.

They don't need to, if only every claimer puts the peaceful resolution. Well, if the peaceful way of resolution finally becomes sour and every claimer should go to war, make sure your "firework" party doesn't burn another people's houses that didn't join the party. Indonesian held Natuna island is very close to those disputed islands over SCS you know, make sure your missiles don't fall near the gas gathering stations in there.

 

[SinoChallenger]

^ Don't worry, Indonesia is nowhere near Manila

 

[ephone]

What is in it for U.S. to offer real support to those island countries again China?

 

[nufix]

What is in it for U.S. to offer real support to those island countries again China?

U.S is obviously in dilemma, U.S still want to have a presence in South East Asia and the only ally U.S got is Philippines, as an ally of Philippines U.S has to come in hand to help its ally. In the other hand, dragging itself to an open conflict with another great power will eventually worsen its current bad economy condition and there's no benefit for the U.S to cover up the possible cost of military operation over the disputed arae if it really goes to war. It is a conflict between face and gold for the U.S, saving gold means losing face, saving face means losing gold. Though decision..

 

[asianamerican]

U.S is obviously in dilemma, U.S still want to have a presence in South East Asia and the only ally U.S got is Philippines, as an ally of Philippines U.S has to come in hand to help its ally. In the other hand, dragging itself to an open conflict with another great power will eventually worsen its current bad economy condition and there's no benefit for the U.S to cover up the possible cost of military operation over the disputed arae if it really goes to war. It is a conflict between face and gold for the U.S, saving gold means losing face, saving face means losing gold. Though decision..

It would be a damn shame if people die because of a couple rocks that you can't even live on. Economic co-operation and co-development is the only solution. They need to put this off the table and continue integrating Asian economy.