If China wants to be a global influencer, it must respect its neighbours; solve bilateral issues: State media
In China’s bid for global influence, the country’s official media said that the nation must respect its neighbour’s interests and solve bilateral disputes. The statement comes weeks after the Dokalam standoff with India came to an end.
“We must stick to our principles but respect the interests of our neighbours,” an Op-ed article in the Global Times said.
Solving disputes with neighbours means much to China, as it needs to maximise its support and minimise opposition in its endeavour to achieve its ambitions, it said.
“Since no one in the world dare look down upon China, China needs to pay attention to more urgent issues,” it said.
“China should safeguard its sovereignty and avoid confrontation between peripheral sovereignty disputes and efforts to ease international strategic pressure that hamper China’s rise. This is our basic tactic,” the article said.
In what appears to be a veiled attack on India, Japan, Vietnam and other neighbouring countries in the South China Sea region, it said some neighbours are playing “hardball in solving their maritime and land disputes with China” and trying to extract concessions from Beijing.
China has maritime disputes with Japan in the East China Sea. Its claims over the South China Sea are opposed by Vietnam, the …read more