The Santa Catarina ship and the power abuses of China
8/3/15
The illegal nine-dash line that China draw on the East Sea
"In my opinion, Singapore will celebrate the
50th anniversary of independence this year, to remember Santa Catarina event which
occurred 412 years ago, because it has promoted the development of international
law and its just happened right outside Changi coast", former Deputy
Director of the Center for International Law of the National University of
Singapore – Mr. Navin Rajagobal wrote on the Straits Times newspaper in a
recent issue.
Santa Catarina was a Portuguese merchant ship. At
that time, the Portuguese wanted a monopoly on the Asian market. They used armed
forces to impede the Dutch from accessing seaports and markets in Asia. 25th February 1603, the Dutch hijacked the
Santa Catarina ship of the Portuguese outside Changi coast to demonstrate
against the commercial monopoly of the Portuguese and protect trade freedom of
all countries. The Netherlands
has made a very significant event in human history through this historic
robbery.
Santa Catarina Events appeared illegal but did made a change in the perception
of the international lawmakers that is, on building basic legal rules, all countries
are allowed to use remote waters to operate service trade. The world cannot let
a country be a “dictator” in whole area of a sea, do what they want as in their
own pond. No matter how powerful it is, the country cannot use armed forces to
control the seas for their own exploitation, and restrict trade freedom of
other countries.
The advantaged human brains havd provided appropriate regulations for society to be
more civilized and equitable.
Yet more than 400 years later, China is going backward and thinking as Portugal at four
centuries ago. Chinese draw nine-dash line in the East
Sea (the South
China Sea) like the greedy tongue of a cow, and assumed the right
to "rule" on that tongue. China wants to go back into the wild
past and they will go, and human being is still forging ahead on the highway of
civilization. As China
is copying the way Portuguese did despite international law, the international
community will react properly to protect trade and sovereignty of the country.
Currently, China takes no notice of protesting
voices of international community, they are trying their best to construct
building on both the Paracel and Spratly islands. They are not only infringing
upon the territorial sovereignty of Vietnam, but also threatening to
maritime security and trade freedom of other countries.
On February 24, in the 1975th anniversary
of Hai Ba Trung Uprising, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Truong
Tan Sang on behalf of the people throughout the country reaffirmed the
determination to protect the integrity of Fatherland: "1975 years ago, the
two heroines Trung Trac and Trung Nhi had raised up to expel the invading North,
took control of whole territory and brought independence for the nation. Nowadays,
following the tradition of patriotism and unyielding will to fight against
invaders, we, the people of our time, determine to build successful and protect
firmly our home of Vietnam.
Vietnam has the right causes, the
power of time, the strength of national unity, the strong support of the
international community and much of experience in wars. Therefore, we certainly
will build successful and firmly protect our beloved Fatherland, never let
anyone taking any inches of territory which we inherited from our forefathers,
rising up alongside with international friends. Losing any inches of land is a
crime against the ancestors; losing country’s independence and autonomy is also
not worthy of the great sacrifice of Hai Ba Trung. "
Vietnam is always alongside with the international
community to defend values of civilized human being and our own territory,
never let China abuse its power and do what they want./.
All comments [ 10 ]
Some say Beijing may be adjusting its approach. But history suggests caution is warranted.
Since Xi Jinping’s ascension to power, we have witnessed China employ what I would call a strategy of “incremental assertiveness” in the South China Sea
For the first time, the United States government has come out publicly with an explicit statement that the so-called “nine-dash line,” which the People's Republic of China and Taiwan assert delineates their claims in the South China Sea, is contrary to international law
Any use of the 'nine-dash line' by China to claim maritime rights not based on claimed land features would be inconsistent with international law
China is acting against rules of international community and the civilization of human being
The international community would welcome China to clarify or adjust its nine-dash line claim to bring it in accordance with the international law of the sea
respect for freedom of navigation, peaceful resolution of disputes, freedom of commerce, negotiation of a Code of Conduct for dispute resolution and, most relevant here, the view that claims to water could only be based on legitimate land-based claims.
In the last several years, however, there has been a growing concern in the region that China had turned its back on diplomacy and was using military and legal means to advance its claims to all of the South China Sea
The South China Sea is a complicated issue for ASEAN members and international community to show our unity to protect the international law and rules.
the rights of all countries, not merely large ones, are respected.
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