By Ha Giang, Nguoi Viet
Editor’s note: China’s placement of the HD-981 rig and deployment of vessels in an area Vietnam considers part of the country’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf has caused tensions between the two countries and worsening conflicts in the South China Sea. What are the implications of China’s actions, and why did Beijing decide to do this now? Professor Peter Navarro, an expert about China, author of the best sellers “The Coming China Wars,” and “Death By China – Confronting the Dragon – A Global Call to Action” offered his insights in an interview with Ha Giang of Nguoi Viet.
Professor Peter Navarro explains about the threat of China during a conference to launch his book “Death By China: Confronting the Dragon – A Global Call to Action”, at Beckman Center, Irvine, June 7, 2011. ( Photo: Ha Giang / Nguoi Viet)
Ha Giang (NV): In your opinion, who did China decide to bring in to operate drilling oil equipment in a disputed patch of the South China Sea – where Vietnam claims territorial rights — and why did Beijing decide to do this now?
Professor Peter Navarro: China has been bullying Vietnam since it seized the Paracel Islands in 1974 and gunned down innocent Vietnamese in 1988 in the Spratly Islands during the Johnson South Reef Massacre . The bigger and stronger China gets, the more it will take from smaller and less powerful countries like Vietnam. It will take from Vietnam both fishing rights and oil and natural gas. The worst part is that Chinese leaders and the Chinese media put out phony propaganda about China as a peace-loving nation. A bully by any other name is still a bully.
NV: What else can the Vietnamese government do, or should it do under the circumstances, besides protesting and requesting China to “immediately stop all the illegal activities and withdraw the rig from Vietnamese waters”?
Professor Peter Navarro: Vietnam needs to align with other countries in the region as well as the United States and form a united front against a bullying China. It should use military force in the dead of night to destroy the rig. Let China respond and the world will see what a great danger it is to the region.
NV: How do you think this action by China affects other countries in the area?
Professor Peter Navarro: China has declared the entire South China Sea a “China Lake” through its 9-dash line. Every inch countries surrender to China is likely an inch lost forever. All countries are affected by Chinese aggression.
NV: Should the U.S react to this event, and if so, how?
Professor Peter Navarro: The U.S. can’t intervene unless Vietnam asks for help. Inviting the U.S. to establish military and naval bases would be a good start towards containing Chinese aggression.
