U.S. should stop helping Philippines raise tensions in S. China Sea

The Philippines' invitation to journalists to visit a Chinese island in the South China Sea and efforts to seek U.S. help are a sheer provocation, and the United States should not back it in any form.

Just as Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said, the fact that the Filipino military invited foreign journalists to visit Zhongye Island, part of the Nansha Islands, by military aircraft on Monday demonstrates that the Philippines is the real rule-breaker and trouble-maker.

According to the international treaties that define the territory of the Philippines, Zhongye Island and other maritime features in the Nansha Islands have never been part of the Philippines, she said.

The Philippines, although aware that its provocation is utterly unjustifiable, turned to the United States for help on Tuesday.

The United States has repeatedly committed itself to not taking sides in the South China Sea disputes, and it shoulders an inescapable responsibility to play a constructive role in the Asia-Pacific region.

However, the world's sole superpower has been far from honoring its commitment. Instead of helping put an end to Manila's trust-eroding and tension-stoking behavior, Washington has largely been fanning the flames.

Last month, close to 12,000 Filipino and American soldiers carried out a large-scale military drill, including an amphibious assault exercise, at a navy base facing China's Huangyan Island.

And recently Washington is reported to be considering sending military planes and ships to the South China Sea on the pretext of assuring freedom of navigation.

Such actions are irresponsible and counterproductive. If the United States honestly wants to be a responsible and constructive player in the Asia-Pacific region, it should stop emboldening the Philippines, which could not have misbehaved for so long without U.S. backing.

Meanwhile, Washington should help bring the Philippines back to its senses, encouraging Manila to stop infringing upon China's territorial sovereignty and start constructive engagement with China for a peaceful solution.

The United States is welcome to play a responsible and constructive role in promoting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Desisting from taking sides on the South China Sea issue would be a good start. Enditem