On July 1, 2011, Xinhua published an article titled “What is the Real Intention of the United States’ Show of Concern about ‘Freedom of Navigation’ in the South China Sea?” The writer of the article argues that “freedom of navigation” in the South China Sea has never been a problem for the United States. The real purpose for the United States to come back to the area is to obstruct China’s freedom of navigation in the East China Sea. “The old Western sea control theory is to ensure their own freedom to use the waters, and obstruct others’ freedom of use. … The ‘freedom of navigation’ proposed by the United States is in fact the substitution of a concept (for the real one), which does not reflect ‘freedom of navigation’ in international law. Instead, it reflects the old Western sea control theory of ‘Control Power’ over the sea.”
“After the Vietnam War, the United States was forced to withdraw from Southeast Asia. The U.S. lost two military bases in the Philippines, the Clark and Subic bases. Now the United States has re-proposed the ‘Philippine-US Joint Defense Treaty’ in the name of protecting its allies and is discussing a return to Clark and Subic. … This military deployment will affect China’s national interests such as freedom of navigation.”
Source: Xinhua, July 1, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2011-07/01/c_121606697.htm