Japanese media have explicitly criticized us, with Japanese outlets claiming that China's actions are "arbitrary and reckless!" On July 15, the Sankei Shimbun published an editorial stating that although lies and insults are considered crimes in Japan, even if a few tongues were cut off, the current Chinese government might still not care. In the South China Sea, they "arbitrarily" demarcate boundaries, "occupy" the coastlines of the Philippines and Vietnam, and have long been spreading the "absurd lies" that our sovereignty extends within these boundaries.
They even mark this line on passport visa pages—an especially troubling move. This boundary line is known as the "Nine-Dash Line" and the "Ten-Dash Line," whose shape has been jokingly referred to as the "ox-tongue line." This area must surely be what they dream of conquering. China's "arbitrary" behavior—militarizing artificial islands—has now reached an intolerable level, fueling growing anger among affected nations. Clearly, China must reclaim its "ox-tongue."
How do we respond to such rhetoric from Japanese media? The claims of "arbitrarily" drawing boundaries and "occupying" the coastlines of the Philippines and Vietnam are pure nonsense. The precursor to the Nine-Dash Line was the discontinuous eleven-dash line drawn by the Republic of China government in 1947. After China officially announced the eleven-dash line in 1948, for decades, official maps, primary and secondary school textbooks, and government diplomatic documents from neighboring countries including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia all consistently marked the South China Islands as belonging to China—with no nation raising diplomatic protests or sovereignty objections.
It wasn't until the 1970s, when massive offshore oil and gas resources in the South China Sea were discovered, that neighboring countries unilaterally instigated disputes over islands and reefs. China’s relevant claims are historically clear and well-founded—so how can it be said that we are acting arbitrarily? Furthermore, constructing military facilities on our own islands is a legitimate right of any sovereign state. Countries like the United States and Japan, which have no stake in the South China Sea, are trying to stir up trouble—we should actually accelerate our military development to thoroughly thwart their sinister ambitions. In short, when it comes to safeguarding our own interests, we will yield not an inch. Japanese media distortions, smear campaigns, and falsehoods are despicable, but they will not undermine our firm resolve to defend our national interests.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870742625311754/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.