The US declares that it will not allow China to "rewrite the rules" in the East Sea.
US military officials affirmed that Washington will not allow China to unilaterally claim sovereignty and impose maritime rules in the East Sea.
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The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (right) and the frigate RSS Supreme of Singapore during an exercise in the East Sea on April 6. Photo:Singapore Navy. |
"We will not allow China to rewrite maritime rules or change international law in the South China Sea,"RapplerAugust 16 quoted the statement of US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs Randall Schriver during a meeting with Philippine reporters at the US Embassy in Manila.
When asked about the Chinese military chasing away a US Navy P-8 reconnaissance aircraft in the East Sea on August 10, Mr. Schriver affirmed that the US military will send aircraft and warships to move and operate in all areas that international law allows.
"The incident reported by CNN is not the first time China has challenged the US and its allies in the East Sea. We need to be steadfast and China must understand that actions like this will not change our stance," Schriver emphasized.
According to US officials, the Pentagon is assessing the capabilities of allied countries in the region and will rely on that to support them in protecting their territorial waters.
Tensions in the East Sea have recently increased after China brazenly built illegal artificial islands and increased military activities in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos. This action goes against Beijing’s commitment not to militarize the East Sea and has been criticized by international public opinion.
The Pentagon said in mid-June it was considering a more assertive freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea, which could involve longer patrols, more ships or closer passages to artificial islands China has built.
On August 3, the US Congress passed a $716 billion defense bill with provisions considered the toughest against China ever, especially aimed at Beijing's militarization activities in the East Sea.
