Xinhua republished a commentary article originally from China Review News, a pro-Beijing media located in Hong Kong, with the title “China Can Only Choose to Fight Back When Faced with U.S. Military Deterrence. “Below is an excerpt from the article:
“Following the United States’ strengthening of its military deployment in the Asia-Pacific region, China has strengthened its military presence in the region. The U.S. has accused China’s military action of being military coercion.
“As we all know, after proposing its rebalancing strategy in the Asia-Pacific in 2012, the United States adopted a series of measures to strengthen the U.S. military presence in the Asia Pacific region. The United States also enhanced its deterrence efforts against China by improving the military forces of countries that have maritime territorial disputes with China, such as Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam. The United States also gathered related countries in the South China Sea and the East China Sea to conduct ever expanding joint military exercises. These U.S. practices have been a serious threat to China’s homeland security. It is an indisputable fact.
“When faced with such U.S. military deterrence, China has no alternative but to choose to fight back. Whether China announces in high profile the establishment of maritime power, gradually increases its defense force in the South China Sea and the Diaoyu Islands, holds joint naval exercises with Russia, or establishes an air defense identification zone, China has to deal with the U.S. military deterrence using its own way. From this perspective, it is because of the U.S.’s military buildup in the Asia Pacific and engaging in an arms race with related countries that China has been forced to increase the strength of its military power.
“The U.S. accuses China of military coercion in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, but the intensification of the South China Sea and the East China Sea disputes are, to a large extent, all related to the United States’ fanning the flames [in the region]. Since implementing the strategy of returning to the Asia-Pacific, the U.S. has sharply increased military aid to the countries that have maritime territorial disputes with China. Also, regarding these disputes, the U.S. does not advise these countries to [resolve the dispute], but groundlessly accuses China of ‘displaying a tough stance.’ This attitude will only encourage the related countries to increase their determination against China and make the problem of territorial disputes more complicated. The security situation in the Asia-Pacific is getting worse.
"The United States’ approach, however, may bring another possibility: China will become more determined and stronger, increasingly deviating from the United States’ envisaged development track.”
Source: Xinhua, January 17, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/mil/2014-01/17/c_126021305.htm