South China Morning Post
Advertisement
Advertisement
South China Sea
Get more with myNEWS
A personalised news feed of stories that matter to you
Learn more
Chinese structures on Mischief Reef in the Spratlys group of islands in the South China Sea on March 20, 2022. Photo: AP
OpinionLetters

Letters | South China Sea: 4 points to consider on China-Philippines ‘gentleman’s agreement’

  • Readers discuss China’s position on the South China Sea, and US action against student protesters
South China Sea
Letters
Letters
Why you can trust SCMP
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification
China must adhere to the international rules-based order established by global maritime treaties of which it is a member. In response to “China-Philippines ‘gentleman’s agreement’ on South China Sea is best adhered to” (April 26), I would like to point out that, first, the Philippines is a democracy. Even a president cannot enter into any agreement that infringes on the country’s territorial sovereignty.

Second, this “agreement” was simply verbal with no evidence in writing.

Third, China had said in 1995 that its installations at Mischief Reef were not military in nature, but shelter for fishermen. Now we have what looks like a full-blown military base complete with radars and a runway near the Philippine island of Palawan.

Fourth, the international arbitral tribunal in The Hague ruled that China’s claims on the area within the “nine-dash line” had no legal basis. The nine-dash line doesn’t even have longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates.

These rocks – which are roughly 1,000km from Hainan – cannot support human life. Therefore, they cannot have their own exclusive economic zone. Meanwhile, the closest EEZ-generating island here is Palawan in the Philippines.

R. Paas, New York

US hypocrisy on display in crackdown on student protests

The US government’s support for Israel despite its expansion of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory is a stark display of hypocrisy. While claiming to champion freedom, democracy and human rights, the US has turned a blind eye to the displacement, land confiscation and human rights violations inflicted upon the Palestinian people.

Then there is the suppression of voices critical of Israeli policies in the US. Activists, academics and even elected officials who dare criticise Israeli actions are often accused of antisemitism or face a backlash, undermining freedom of speech and stifling legitimate debate on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The harsh crackdown on the student movement calling for an end to military aggression against Palestinians is a clear example.

Peaceful student protests and activism demanding an end to military aggression are met with excessive force, arrests and intimidation tactics aimed at silencing dissent and stifling the Palestinian narrative. This heavy-handed approach not only undermines the principles of freedom and justice but also damages the credibility of the US as a defender of human rights on the international stage.

The US selectively applies human rights principles based on political convenience rather than a commitment to justice and equality. Americans should support the students’ quest for justice and peace in the Middle East.

Jordan C.M. Tam, Tseung Kwan O

5