China left spouting ‘Sea of Peace’ propaganda lies
Military build-up and bullying tactics make a mockery of a report released by a Chinese think tank
Propaganda is like a constant drip feed in China. It is turned on and off by the ruling Communist Party and used to back up false narratives at home and abroad.
Nothing illustrates this better than the Xinhua Institute’s white paper entitled, Making the South China Sea a Sea of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation.
Promoted as “a high-end think tank,” it is part of the state-funded Xinhua News Agency, the official mouthpiece of the Party. Being objective does not appear to be a priority.
“Throughout history, China has never sought to pursue ‘regional hegemony.’ China remains committed to managing differences with involved parties,” the report stressed.
“[It involves] exercising restraint in disputes, and working diligently with regional countries to build a rules-based maritime order in the South China Sea,” it added.
Fact not fiction:
- The truth reveals a different scenario of naked Chinese “military aggression.”
- A once tranquil sea has been turned into a sea of conflict fueled by Beijing’s ambitions.
[The] Communist Party threatens maritime shipping lanes.
US Department of State
Delve deeper: “[China] is using military and economic coercion to bully its neighbors [and] advance unlawful maritime claims,” the US Department of State reported.
Between the lines: “[The] Communist Party threatens maritime shipping lanes, and destabilizes territory along [its] periphery,” it warned in a scathing assessment.
Big picture: Since that study was released in 2021, the situation has deteriorated. China’s naval build-up has continued around Taiwan with flashpoint incidents elsewhere.
Bottom line: Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and, in particular, the Philippines have all seen encroachment in their territorial waters, turning the South China Sea into a no-go area.
Hard power: To back that up, China “now possesses the world’s largest maritime fighting force,” according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
China Factor comment: Terror not tranquility appears to be Chinese President Xi Jinping’s policy. It is time the United States and its allies woke up to this new reality.