International ties

US engaging in gunboat diplomacy

By Luo Yuan (People's Daily Online)
Updated: 2010-08-13 15:54

Second, the so-called deterrence is no different from bully tactics, namely that "if you do not obey me, I will punch you." Third, the so-called maritime security is to ensure the inviolability of US gunboats. The United States only cares about its own safety, and it should not be expected to ever care about others' safety. Fourth, the so-called sea control applies the logic of "whoever controls critical sea-lanes controls the seas, and whoever controls the seas controls the world."

Fifth, the so-called power projection is obviously for war rather than peace. Sixth, the so-called humanitarian assistance is only for the Americans and US allies, while others only receive brutal and rough treatment from the United States. This US behavioral style shows that it is still holding on to the Cold War mentality and still implementing gunboat diplomacy, the philosophical foundation of which is the law of jungle, namely bullying the weak.

Ironically, the United States, which has a blind belief in its military force and "speaks" only through its gunboats, is at once embarrassingly trapped in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The third feature of US foreign policy is unilateralism, namely, "No matter how many people it involves, I am superior to all others, and I can do whatever I like. Everything must bend to American interests and will." The philosophical foundation of American unilateralism is based on the zero-sum game and its basic principle is: what I obtain must be what others lose and vice versa, so what others obtain must be what I lose.

Therefore, the United States is never willing to communicate and consult with other countries, let alone think from others' point of views. Since Obama came into power, he has claimed to have broken clearly with former President Bush's unilateralist policies and pursued "smart power" diplomacy.

However, judging from the United States and South Korea's insistence on holding joint military drills around the waters of the Korean Peninsula, we see neither multilateral security cooperation nor the display of smart power. What we see is only unilateral confrontation and showing off of hard power.

The Chinese are peace-loving people, and China is now taking a peaceful development road different from when the imperialist powers rose. We do not want to be against any country, but we are not fearful if other countries ignore our solemn positions and core interests. A country must have the dignity and its army must have deterrence power.

China adheres to the principle "We will not attack unless we are attacked, and we must retaliate only if we are attacked," which is definitely not a joke to the Chinese people and the army. Doesn't the United States proclaim itself to be the most democratic country? Then, they should know in the 21st century, they ought to learn to respect others and listen to the public opinions of other countries, using wisdom but not gunboats to solve problems.

The author is the deputy secretary general of the Society of China Military Sciences