by Stephen Lendman

The Times is a voice of empire, ignoring international, constitutional and US statute laws, one-sidedly supporting America’s hegemonic aim for unchallenged global dominance - no matter the cost in endless carnage and human suffering.

On October 30, its editors headlined “America Challenges Beijing’s Ambitions in the South China Sea,” offensively saying US policy “consider(s) freedom of navigation a vital national interest,” ignoring the Pentagon saying its warships will enter Chinese waters freely - a dangerous provocation risking direct confrontation.

China is within its rights to challenge any vessel entering its waters without permission. Not according to Times editors, claiming “Beijing has been trying to rewrite the rules” of free navigation. They apply only to international waters, not sovereign areas of any country.

America considers all global waters its own. China justifiably considers Nansha (Spratly) as well as three other South China Sea archipelago islands and surrounding waters its historical sovereign territory - no different from America claiming Mexico Gulf, east and west coast waters its own.

An unnamed Pentagon official said US patrols will enter Chinese waters freely. Expect Beijing to respond appropriately.

On October 29, Washington got the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) to rule in its favor - in response to US officials getting the Philippines to file suit in 2013 over alleged disputed South China Sea waters. Hearings will follow.

Beijing accused Manilla of “a political provocation under the cloak of law.” The Washington-based law firm Foley Hoag represents the Philippine government.

China claims a historical right to Nansha (Spratly), Dongsha (Patras), Xisha (Paracel) and Zhongsha archipelago islands, as well as surrounding waters. It rejects the PCA ruling, pressured by Washington, a provocative act fooling no one.

Beijing responded sharply to its ruling, its Foreign Ministry saying “China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands and the adjacent waters, (calling PCA’s action) a political provocation under the cloak of law.”

“It is in essence not an effort to settle disputes but an attempt to negate China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.” PCA has “no jurisdiction” to act.

Along with Washington and the Philippines, it accused the court of “abus(ing) relevant procedures and obstinately forc(ing) ahead with the arbitration, and as a result, severely violat(ing) the legitimate rights that China enjoys as a State Party to the UNCLOS (UN Law of the Sea), completely deviat(ing) from the purposes and objectives of the UNCLOS, and erod(ing) (its) integrity and authority…”

Beijing rejects its ruling and any to follow. Last week, Chinese Admiral Wu Shengli warned Washington in no uncertain terms, saying:

“If the United States continues with these kinds of dangerous, provocative acts, there could well be a seriously pressing situation between frontline forces from both sides on the sea and in the air, or even a minor incident that sparks war.”

Times editors reject China’s sovereign rights, supporting Washington’s reckless Asia pivot, asserting its right to dominate territory not its own, expanding its military footprint aggressively.

It’s risking direct confrontation on two fronts:

• Russia in Eastern Europe with hostile military exercises along with deploying increasing numbers of NATO troops belligerently near its borders; and


• China in its own waters provocatively - both actions hostile belligerent acts, risking nuclear war able to end life on earth.

Times editors ignored what demands featuring, instead accused China of violating “its commitments under international law,” a reckless accusation - mindless of longstanding US policy breaching rule of law principles globally, hegemonic recklessness risking WW III.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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