US "toughens the boat" with China at Shangri-La Dialogue

The United States on June 4 increased pressure on China to rein in its activities in the South China Sea, with senior military officials stressing Washington’s military superiority and pledging to remain a key guarantor of Asian security for decades to come.

US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue. Photo: AFP/VNA

In his speech, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter warned China about its provocative behavior in the East Sea and said that any Chinese action to reclaim Scarborough Shoal in the disputed waters would lead to many consequences.

“I hope that doesn’t happen, because it would lead to actions by the United States and other countries in the region that would not only increase tensions but also isolate China,” Mr. Carter said. “The United States will remain the most powerful military and the principal guarantor of regional security for decades to come — and there can be no doubt about that.”

The South China Sea has become a flashpoint between the United States, which is pivoting to the Asia-Pacific region, and China, which is flexing its economic, political and military muscle in the region like never before. But Mr Carter said he would welcome China’s participation in a “principled security network” in Asia. “Progressive leaders must… come together to ensure a good future based on principles,” he said, adding that the network he was envisioning could also help protect the region from “troubling Russian actions” and the growing impact of climate change.

Mr. Carter also commented that for decades, some people have predicted that the US would withdraw from this region, but that will not happen: "The reason is that this region, home to nearly half the world's population and accounting for nearly half of global economic output, remains the most important role for the security and prosperity of the United States."

In response, Major General Guan Youfei, Deputy Head of the Chinese delegation attending the event, said that the US should reduce provocative exercises and patrols in the region and that any plot to isolate China would fail.

Asian leaders said the situation in the South China Sea was of grave concern to all countries in the region. “All countries in the region need to recognise that our shared prosperity and the enviable growth of the region over the past decades is at risk from provocative actions by any of us,” Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told the forum.

Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Tokyo would help Southeast Asian nations strengthen their security capabilities to counter what he called unilateral, dangerous and coercive actions in the South China Sea. “In the South China Sea, we are seeing land reclamation, building of outposts and their use for military purposes… No country can stand aside from this issue.”

Meanwhile, Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein stated: “The ambiguity about China's future direction is considered the main cause of concern about a possible military confrontation.”

According to News