As regional leaders gather here Sunday for the annual East Asia Summit, the United States is poised to hype up the South China Sea issue and mess up an important event that should be focused on tackling real challenges.
Prior to the meeting, U.S. President Barack Obama labeled the South China Sea as "a major topic," and U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice dubbed it "a central issue of discussion."
Such a stance is irresponsible and counterproductive. As many observers have pointed out, it stems from Washington's self-interests: A volatile situation would help it preserve its hegemonic presence in the region.
And the meddling hand threatens to spoil a precious opportunity for East Asian leaders to compare notes and push for closer cooperation, which is needed for the region's lasting peace and further development.
The central argument in Washington's pretext for interference is that freedom of navigation at South China Sea is in jeopardy. That is a false presupposition.
Thanks to China's restraint and the concerted efforts of most coastal countries, the South China Sea situation has been generally peaceful. Despite the territorial rows between China and other claimants, legitimate passage of ships and planes has never been a problem.
"There are over 100,000 ships from countries around the world sailing safely and freely through the South China Sea every year," said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying. "They don't run into any problems at all."
Meanwhile, although some Chinese islands in South China Sea have been illegally occupied by others, Beijing has always insisted on settling the disputes through peaceful means.
China itself needs unimpeded passage in the body of water more than any other country does, and maintaining peace and stability has been the overriding consideration of its South China Sea policy.
Furthermore, China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed to deal with the complicated issue with a dual-track approach: The rows are to be resolved by directly concerned parties through consultation and negotiation, while China and ASEAN members work together to uphold regional peace and stability.
Now an increasingly serious menace to South China Sea stability is interference from outside. For example, Washington's so-called "rebalance to the Asia-Pacific" strategy played an undeniable role in emboldening certain claimants to make hot-headed moves on the issue, which served only to further complicate and protract it.
Therefore, for the South China Sea disputes to be untangled as soon as possible and for the busy patch of water to keep permanently peaceful, outsiders should withdraw their meddling hands and allow full play to the wisdom and pragmatism of those directly involved.
In parallel, ASEAN members need to keep their heads cool and eyes open. They should join China in preventing the South China Sea issue from being used by others as a stir stick to muddy the waters and fish for self-interests.
After all, China and Southeast Asian countries are close neighbors with inseparably intertwined interests. They need to focus on the big picture and work together to turn the vast South China Sea into a platform of cooperation and a staging base for common development and prosperity.
Opportunities abound thanks to such initiatives as the Belt and Road and the Year of China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation. It would be a pity should these opportunities be spoiled by external noise pollution.
