Huanqiu published that the United States is “quietly moving” to solidify its influence in Southeast Asia using different tactics. The activities, Huanqiu speculated, include trips to Asia by U.S. officials and U.S. scholars, conferences in Asia on economic partnerships and maritime law, as well as visits to China by U.S. scholars. These covert activities provide the base for future actions as well as intelligence support to its policies and open actions, aiming to cut into East Asia for control when the time is ripe. Professor Su Hao, China Foreign Affairs University, affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wrote the article.

Source: Huanqiu, July 21, 2010
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/roll/2010-07/945457.html

Xinhua published an editorial critical of U.S. Secretary of State Clinton’s remarks at the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting about U.S. interests regarding the disputed South China Sea Islands.  

“These remarks show the interest by foreign forces in intervening in the South China Sea. The underlying motives and the possible impact thereof are worth our attention and alert (toward) the neighboring countries in the South China Sea.”

The editorial warns that whenever there are territorial disputes, western forces will first incite discord in the region and then pose as arbitrators to divide and rule the disputing countries.

Source: Xinhua, July 27, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2010-07/27/c_12379898.htm

After China’s unusual repeated protests, the U.S. “George Washington” aircraft carrier will not enter the Yellow Sea, but will perform joint exercises with South Korea in the Japanese Sea. China and the US have entered an “aircraft carrier dilemma” era, International Herald reported on July 22. The article listed three strategies for China to deal with the US:
1. Best strategy: A political solution: Define China’s core interest areas along China’s coastal areas and use political and diplomatic approaches to block U.S. carriers from entering it.
2. Mediocre strategy: A political approach plus military preparation such as anti-surveillance preparation, monitoring the U.S. carrier, conducting China’s exercises in certain water areas, etc.
3. Military strategy: If the U.S. carrier arrives at China’s coast despite China’s strong protests, then send a nuclear submarine carrying strategic missiles to the ocean war locations, increase the combat readiness level of the land-based long-range missiles, and apply military pressure against the U.S. carriers battle group, etc.

Source: International Herald, July 22, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/herald/2010-07/22/content_13897790.htm