US-China SNS War Over South China Sea Issue

Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Cambodia, Myanmar US Embassies Criticize China on SNS
China SNS Retaliates... "America Is Selfish, Hypocritical, Disgusting, and Ugly-Faced"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Sun-mi] The verbal sparring between the U.S. and China over the South China Sea issue on social networking services (SNS) is resembling a battlefield. Experts view the fierce exchanges, which have escalated to the use of harsh and explicit language, as a deliberate diplomatic strategy.

According to major foreign media on the 21st, the U.S. embassies in Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Myanmar recently condemned China’s South China Sea policy through Facebook and local media editorials, accusing it of infringing on the sovereignty of other countries. The U.S. ambassador to Thailand pointed out China’s active dam construction as a tool to strengthen its influence in the South China Sea. China, located upstream of the Mekong River, is worsening drought conditions in downstream Southeast Asian countries by using dams, effectively manipulating the countries in the Mekong River basin through these dams.

The U.S. embassy in Yangon, Myanmar, stated on Facebook that China, while pretending to invest in Myanmar, is interfering in Myanmar’s internal affairs at every turn. This approach was likened to human trafficking and drug smuggling routes, similar to bringing women to China under the pretense of marriage. The U.S. ambassador to the Philippines posted a Facebook message supporting the U.S., saying, "We thank the U.S. for doing what is legally necessary (in the South China Sea)."

Since U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last week unilaterally criticized China for its illegal claims of sovereignty over the South China Sea, U.S. diplomats in the region have been unprecedentedly releasing explicit anti-China statements on SNS.

China is also actively counterattacking through SNS.

The Chinese ambassador to Thailand accused the U.S. of sowing discord between China and other neighboring countries. The Chinese embassy in Myanmar also stated on Facebook, "The U.S. has shown a selfish, hypocritical, disgusting, and ugly face," adding, "The U.S. has ignored international norms and the common interests of humanity and has done many repugnant things. It is doing all sorts of hateful acts to contain China."

This post sparked thousands of comments criticizing both the U.S. and China. On the Chinese embassy’s SNS in Malaysia, a comment saying "Imperial Yankee go home!!!" was posted, to which U.S. diplomats responded, "Are you saying it’s okay for China to bully the weak in the South China Sea?"

Experts analyzed that the explicit verbal sparring between the U.S. and China on SNS is part of a diplomatic strategy surrounding the South China Sea. In particular, the unusual flood of anti-China posts by the U.S. on SNS is interpreted as a new strategy to check China’s expansion of influence in the South China Sea.

Sebastian Strangio, a journalist and author of a book on China’s influence in the South China Sea, explained, "The purpose of the U.S. SNS attacks is to portray China as a clear threat to sovereignty in the South China Sea by linking the issue to a regional common concern," adding, "In response, Chinese diplomats are also engaging in ‘Wolf Warrior diplomacy’ to counter critical overseas public opinion."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.