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Notice posted on the US State Department website on September 27 on “China’s blatant promises in the South China Sea” – screenshot
In a statement posted on the US State Department website on September 27 (US time), US State Department spokesman Morgan Ortagus pointed to China’s “empty promises” on the issue. of the South China Sea.
“Five years ago, on September 25, 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping stood in the rose garden of the White House and declared that ‘China has no intention of pursuing militarization’ in the Spratly Islands. (under Vietnamese sovereignty) and Chinese-built outposts ‘will not target or influence any country’ ”- the opening statement.
However, the statement said that China has carried out provocative militarization moves in the South China Sea. “They have deployed anti-ship cruise missiles, expanded military radar and signal intelligence capabilities, built dozens of hunting hangars, and built landing strips capable of receiving fighters,” the statement said.
Furthermore, the United States accuses China of using these militarized outposts “as a platform for coercion to impose control over the waters over which China makes illegal maritime claims.”
“They are the meeting point for hundreds of Chinese maritime and maritime militia vessels that routinely harass civilian vehicles and impede legal activities of law enforcement, deep-sea fishing, and oil and gas exploitation. neighboring countries “- said the statement.
The statement posted on the State Department website reads: “China does not respect their claims or commitments. “
In recent months, the United States has seen an “unprecedented number of nations” speak out formally against China’s illegal maritime claims in the South China Sea at the United Nations, the statement added.
“We urge the international community to continue to increase its opposition to this dangerous and unacceptable behavior, to make it clear to China that we will hold them accountable.
The United States will continue to side with its allies and partners in Southeast Asia to counter China’s coercive attempts to establish dominance in the South China Sea, “the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Uong Van Ban said on September 28 that new US military activities made Washington “the greatest threat to peace and stability in the South China Sea. “.
In the past, the United States has stepped up its criticism of Chinese activities in the South China Sea. In July, the US State Department issued an official statement on the US stance in the South China Sea, rejecting most of China’s claims in these waters.
