Comicomment: The U.S. 'Freedom of Navigation': A Mask for Hegemony

(ECNS)--Recently, U.S. warships sailed all the way to China's periphery in an act of muscle-flexing provocation, yet the U.S. has accused China of overacting and claimed that China's interception actions demonstrate its "growing aggressiveness".

Using hegemonic discourse to distort facts and manipulate public opinion is a trick commonly used by some U.S. politicians and media. The U.S. has been sending warships and military aircraft halfway around the world to China's doorsteps and engaging in close-in reconnaissance and showoff of military muscle near China’s territorial sea and airspace. But they turned around and accused China of overreacting? As Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin has said, this is not about "freedom of navigation", but hegemony of navigation and distinct military provocation. And such hegemonic practice is the root cause of security risks on the sea and in the air.