🌏 What's really stirring the waters in the South China Sea? Chinese experts gathered in Beijing this week to dive deep into this pressing question.
At a forum organized by the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI), scholars unpacked the root causes of instability in the region. They pointed fingers at external interference and some claimant countries pushing illegal interests.
Dr. Wu Shicun, chairman of the Huayang Research Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance, debunked claims that China's activities have altered the status quo. \"Our actions are legit 🌟,\" he asserted, emphasizing they're countermeasures against attempts to undermine China's position in the Nansha Islands.
Professor Hu Bo from Peking University highlighted that China's sovereignty claims have been consistent. He pointed out that the real game-changers are some countries trying to shake things up and the heightened military presence of outsiders. \"Think about it,\" he said, \"the South China Sea was way calmer when others kept their distance.\"
Other experts, including Professor Lei Xiaolu and Associate Professor Zheng Zhihua, slammed the 2016 arbitration award, labeling it \"null and void 🚫\". They stressed that it violated international conventions and overstepped boundaries.
The forum also shed light on how external forces are stirring the pot by spinning tales about freedom of navigation. Yan Yan, director at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, didn't mince words: \"The biggest threat isn't coming from us. It's from those trying to impose their own rules 📢.\"
Despite the choppy waters, the consensus was clear: the situation isn't as tense as some make it out to be. Maybe it's time to look beyond the headlines and see the real currents beneath the surface 🧐.
Reference(s):
Experts weigh in on real threats to stability in South China Sea
cgtn.com
