China argues that the waters have been Chinese for a thousand years, but the likelier inspiration is more recent, reflecting Imperial Japan’s occupation of Taiwan until 1945. Thus, China, whose culture and achievements are the envy of the world, is today in a war of words – and a few naval vessels as well – with almost all of its southern neighbors over a recently inherited claim on an issue that calls for a respectful process of international negotiation.
中国所谓的“九段线”基本上将整个南中国海变成了南中国的内湖，但这实际上这是民国时期遗留下来的说法。那蒋介石委员长是在哪儿找到这套说辞的？中国声称对于这片水域的所有权已经有了上千年历史。但更可靠的说辞应该来源于不远的一段历史：日本帝国在1945年以前对台湾的占领将南中国海也纳入其中。结果中国这个让全世界都羡慕其文化和发展成就的国家，就不得不为了一个没多长历史的继承权而与几乎所有南部邻国陷入口水战当中——有时候还夹杂着海军舰艇的对峙，而解决问题还是要靠有礼有节的国际谈判。