China has a right to claim islands
Play
Inhabitants around disputed Huangyan Island, or so-called Scarborough Shoal, can feel the water temperature rising. Even though the Marcos government declared in 1978 that the islands are within 200 nautical miles of the Philippines coastline, and Manila
Some Western media, in their biased attitude towards China, do not hesitate to accuse it of “intimidating neighbours” and openly calling for the US to “live up to its commitment” to “defend the freedom of the sea”. One wonders which side they will take if Cuba declares that her maritime territory includes Key West, 90 miles from Havana.
If the Western media exercises its freedom to choose sides without looking at the facts, they have underestimated the strength of the Chinese people and their sentiments on national issues. Chinese people know from history how the West exploited their country in the 1800s, and many elder Chinese can still remember when Japan invaded China in the 1930s. They are looking forward to a strong China that can protect its territory and its people.
Chinese people will prefer to let the water boil at Huangyan Island when there is no alternative other than to defend it.
Yingwai Suchaovanich
Bangkok
