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US criticizes
Beijingˇ¦s moves in S China Sea
TROUBLED WATER: China has chosen the Paracel
Islands for its garrison, inviting Hanoi and Manilaˇ¦s anger and causing worry
about a possible conflict
AFP, WASHINGTON
The US on Friday accused China of raising tensions through a new military
garrison in the South China Sea as it called on all sides to lower tensions in
the hotly contested waters.
China announced last week that it was establishing the tiny city of Sansha and a
garrison on an island in the disputed Paracel Islands (Xisha Islands, ¦č¨F¸s®q),
infuriating Vietnam and the Philippines, which have accused Beijing of
intimidation. The islands are also claimed by Taiwan.
ˇ§We are concerned by the increase in tensions in the South China Sea and are
monitoring the situation closely,ˇ¨ US Department of State spokesman Patrick
Ventrell said in a statement.
ˇ§In particular, Chinaˇ¦s upgrading of the administrative level of Sansha city and
establishment of a new military garrison there covering disputed areas of the
South China Sea run counter to collaborative diplomatic efforts to resolve
differences and risk further escalating tensions in the region,ˇ¨ he said.
Ventrell also pointed to ˇ§confrontational rhetoricˇ¨ and incidents at sea,
saying: ˇ§The United States urges all parties to take steps to lower tensions.ˇ¨
China says it controls much of the South China Sea, but Taiwan, Brunei,
Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam all claim portions.
Vietnam and the Philippines have accused China of stepping up harassment at sea.
The US has rallied behind Southeast Asian nations, expanding military ties with
the Philippines and Vietnam. US President Barack Obama has decided to send US
Marines to Australia in a further show of US power in Asia.
The US Senate approved a resolution late on Thursday that ˇ§strongly urgesˇ¨ all
regional nations to exercise self-restraint and to refrain from permanently
inhabiting points in the South China Sea until a code of conduct is reached.
The resolution, sponsored by US senators from both major parties, declared that
Washington was committed ˇ§to assist the nations of Southeast Asia to remain
strong and independent.ˇ¨
During a 2010 visit to Vietnam, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
declared that Washington had a national interest in freedom of navigation in the
South China Sea, through which half of world cargo passes.
The US State Department statement on Friday reiterated that the US has an
interest in stability and ˇ§unimpeded lawful commerceˇ¨ in the South China Sea,
but that Washington does not take a position on rival claims.
China also has separate disputes with US ally Japan in the East China Sea, an
issue discussed by Japanese Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto on a visit on
Friday to Washington.
US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, addressing a joint news conference with
Morimoto, voiced hope for further progress in a code of conduct on the South
China Sea.
ˇ§The last thing we want is to have direct confrontation in the South China Sea
with regards to jurisdictional issues,ˇ¨ Panetta said.
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