【Comment】
As to the crisis on South China Sea, Obama made his latest remark in Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative
(YSEALI).
The escalation has been brought to the critical
level; however, Obama’s remark still left room for further negotiation by the
messages that “China is going to be successful,” that “it may be that some of their
claims are legitimate,” and that the U.S doesn’t “have a claim to these areas.”
But I feel pessimistic about it: How could it be
possible for China to stop her mega national civil engineering projects and withdraw
all the equipment and vessels before the projects are all completed? Revised at 1415
歐巴馬警告大陸：不要在南海製造衝突○中央社 (2015.06.02)
（中央社華盛頓1日綜合外電報導）法新社報導，美國總統歐巴馬今天就南海領土爭端提出看法，呼籲這個地區的強國，特別是中國大陸，尊重法律和停止「出拳」。
由於亞洲地區數個強國在海上邊界問題上對峙，歐巴馬警告，切勿漠視現有法律，也切勿偏離以既定方式解決爭端。
他說：「如果你開始捨棄這種解決問題的方式，突然發生衝突時，各方靠國家大小和海軍強弱來宣稱領土主權，而不是依據法律，我會認為亞洲的繁榮將減褪，太平洋地區的繁榮將減褪。」
歐巴馬接著說，美國並未在南海宣稱擁有領土主權，但身為「太平洋地區強國」，美國一直在口頭上呼籲中國大陸和其他國家停止填海造陸。
歐巴馬政府已誓言繼續派遣軍機和船艦前往這個情勢緊張的地區，以保護航行權利。
歐巴馬說：「我們認為，任何一方在這個地區填海造陸和採取侵略性的行動會產生相反效果。」
歐巴馬直接將話題轉到中國大陸，他用拳擊隱喻說：「他們某些對領土主權的宣示可能是合法的，但他們不應使用出拳將別人推到一旁的方式建立這種合法性。」（譯者：中央社簡長盛）1040602
Remarks by the President in Town Hall with YSEALI Initiative Fellows 2015.06.02
Q Thank
you, President. Good afternoon, sir. I’m from Vietnam. Currently, I’m working for the Da Nang Institute
for Socio-Economic Development. And first
of all, I would like to say thank you to you for giving us this unique opportunity
to come to the United States and to meet you today. My question for you is, what is your opinion about
disputes and China’s action in the East Sea or so-called the South China Sea?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, as I already
mentioned, what has allowed all of Asia to prosper over the last two, three decades
-- including China -- is there’s been relative peace and stability, freedom of navigation,
freedom of commerce. And all of that has
been underwritten, all of that has been because there have been certain rules that
everybody has followed. Freedom of navigation requires that people observe basic conduct
about, this far off, your territory is your territory;
after that, it’s
international waters. If there’s
a dispute, then there’s international mechanisms
to adjudicate that dispute.
If you start losing that approach and suddenly conflicts arise and claims
are made based on how big the country is or how powerful its navy is instead of
based on law, then I think Asia will be less prosperous
and the Pacific region will be less prosperous. And that’s why we’ve said directly to China and
to other claimant countries, we don’t have a claim to these areas. We’re not parties in the dispute. But we do have a stake in making sure that they
are resolved peacefully, diplomatically, and in accordance with internationally
established standards.
And for that reason, we think that land reclamation, aggressive actions by
any party in that area are counterproductive. And we will continue as an Asia Pacific power
to support all countries who are prepared to work with us to establish and enforce
norms and rules that can continue growth and prosperity in the region. And the truth is,
is that China is going to be successful. It’s big, it’s powerful, its people are talented
and they work hard. And it may be that some of their claims are legitimate, but
they shouldn’t just try to establish that based on throwing elbows and pushing people
out of the way. If, in fact, their claims
are legitimate, people will recognize them.
I will say this, though, that I am very confident -- much more confident
in the future of Southeast Asia, the Asia Pacific and the world, because I’ve had
the opportunity to spend time with you. I
think all of you are going to do outstanding work. And I want to make sure that you know that not
only will this administration and the United States government continue to support
the work that you do, but I personally, even after I leave office, will continue
to have a great interest in seeing not only you succeed but those coming behind
you -- young people like yourself succeed.
And I think you should be interested in making sure to promote YSEALI and
the network and try to provide similar opportunities to other young people as you
become more important in whatever your fields are in the future.
Congratulations. Good luck. (Applause.)
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/06/02/remarks-president-town-hall-yseali-initiative-fellows
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/06/02/remarks-president-town-hall-yseali-initiative-fellows
作者已經移除這則留言。
回覆刪除“. . . because I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with you. “
回覆刪除This is a reminder to all of Barack’s Indonesian boyhood. His Caucasian American mother, Ann Dunham wedded her second husband, Indonesian Lolo Soetoro. Young Barack was privileged to spend his boyhood (age 6 to 10) in a culturally multi-faceted Indonesia just out of four hundred years of subjugation to a western power.
There, rubbing flesh with is school and playground buddies, young Barack had a rare opportunity to develop a sense of kinship with his environment. That background makes President Barack Obama the first Asian American President of the US.
When he leaves office, Barack Obama is best positioned to create in Washington a platform where American elites will have the opportunity to pay attention to all Asian voices. As Barack learnt early on, if the Chinese form an important part of the area, all of Asia is not Chinese.