US declares freedom of navigation and aviation is under threat in the East Sea

The South China Sea is fundamentally not an issue between the US and China but between China and other claimant countries.

That was the statement of US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel at a press conference in Washington DC on the morning of June 19 about the upcoming annual strategic and economic dialogue between the US and China.

US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel

Assistant Secretary of State Russel said that in the upcoming 7th dialogue, the US and China will discuss a series of issues on economy, security and people-to-people exchange.

According to Mr. Russel, the strategic dialogue on security will have the participation of senior diplomatic and military officials of the two countries with an agenda including the most difficult, sensitive, controversial issues that are likely to create strategic distrust between the two sides such as hackers, space, maritime activities, aviation, etc.

Responding to a question about the possibility of confrontation between the US and China in the East Sea, the US Assistant Secretary of State affirmed that the US always pursues a policy of avoiding military confrontation with other countries.

Mr. Russel made it clear that the East Sea is fundamentally not an issue between the US and China but an issue between China and other claimant countries, between China and ASEAN, as well as between China and international law.

“There are a number of principles here, the first is good relations. The US wants China to have good relations with all its neighbors as well as with the US. The next principle is freedom of navigation and overflight, but this principle is really under threat in the East Sea,” Mr. Russel affirmed.

The US Assistant Secretary of State stressed that China's recent announcement that it will continue to expand the construction of facilities at the outposts it has built in the East Sea is causing concern not only for the US but also for countries in the region, causing increased tensions.

“It is clear that the prospect of militarizing outposts in the South China Sea runs counter to the goal of reducing tensions. That is why the United States has repeatedly urged China to halt its reclamation, construction of facilities, and militarization of these outposts,” Mr. Russel added.

The US Assistant Secretary of State also emphasized the principles that parties need to follow to resolve disputes peacefully, such as not accepting coercion, threats or use of force, and not hindering legitimate commercial activities.

Parties need to comply with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in claiming territorial sovereignty and resolving disputes peacefully through diplomacy or arbitration...

According to Mr. Russel, these principles were committed in writing by China and ASEAN countries in 2002 and will continue to be mentioned in this US-China dialogue.

Indirectly criticizing China's threatening behavior towards foreign fishermen in the East Sea, Mr. Russel made it clear that the US wants the smallest fishing boat from the Philippines, Vietnam or Malaysia to be able to operate confidently in international waters like the largest US warship.

The Strategic and Economic Dialogue is a forum for the United States and China to enhance cooperation and address challenges on bilateral, regional and global issues. The upcoming dialogue will take place in Washington DC from June 22-24./.

According to VOV.VN