In recent months, tensions between the United States and China have been flaring up due to a variety of disputes concerning everything from joint naval maneuvers with South Korea to monetary disputes regarding the undervalued Yuan. The most recent disagreement comes on the eve of a meeting between President Obama and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) over a territorial dispute in the South China Sea. The Chinese government has become more and more brazen in drawing territorial lines in areas of the South China Sea that ASEAN nations currently lay claim to. In July, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton enraged Beijing as she addressed the issue by encouraging member states of ASEAN to unite against China's increased naval presence in the disputed region.
The Chinese government wants the United States to stay out of the dispute, saying that the intervention of the U.S. by Hillary Clinton was virtually an attack on China. Yet the United States must stand firm with ASEAN on this issue and not allow China to further its influence in the region. Allowing China to expand southward unimpeded not only threatens ASEAN interests in the region, but also those of Taiwan, Japan, Korea and the United States. The area that China is currently trying to lay claim to is vital to the economic development of Southeast Asia. The waters are not only home to valuable fishing areas, but also oil, which developing nations such as Vietnam wish to sell in the global market.
The administration has thus far taken the right approach when it comes to this issue. It is important that the United States not back down now. Any sign of weakness on behalf of the administration will unquestionably harm America's image abroad and will undoubtedly be taken advantage of by the People's Republic of China. President Obama has a history of backing down to other nations on matters of national security, namely the missile defense system in Eastern Europe last fall.
The Eastern European missile defense system, of which Poland and the Czech Republic were extremely supportive because it acted as a deterrent to Iran and North Korea's missile programs, was thrown out by the administration, largely due to pressure from Russia. Polish officials called the capitulation ""catastrophic for Poland"" and the Czech Republic was none too pleased as well. The United States must never again abandon its allies due to pressure from other nations. This is especially true in the case of China, since their foreign policy has been known to take advantage of perceived weaknesses from other counties for its own developmental benefits.
Despite the recent lapse by the Obama administration, America has always defended its allies throughout the world, including the Pacific. Since World War II, the United States has maintained a forward-operating naval presence in the Pacific region, and must continue to do so. China has no interest in attacking Taiwan so long as American aircraft carriers and nuclear ballistic submarines are parked nearby. The same goes for North Korea with regard to South Korea.
To this end, the Obama administration has succeeded. Over the summer, the United States and South Korea staged joint naval exercises in response to the sinking of a South Korean ship by a North Korean torpedo. Although China took the maneuvers as a direct threat to its own security and was strongly opposed to them, the United States stood firm and went ahead with the exercises. The story, which was in the headlines for weeks in China, got little play in Western press. All China could do in response was stage its own military drills, and as a result the United States was successful in accomplishing the mission it had originally intended. America must again stand up to China when it comes to these territorial disputes throughout Southeast Asia.
While China will no doubt continue to try to extend its influence throughout Asia, the Obama administration must remain dedicated to supporting our allies in the ASEAN countries. It is imperative that our nation remains resolute in confronting and combating threats to our interests both at home and abroad, especially when it comes to maintaining freedom of the seas.
It's important that we voice our concerns over foreign affairs. We as students need to remember that, although these issues may be happening thousands of miles away, they are important to us right here on campus.
Matt Payne is a junior majoring in Chinese and economics. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
