Trump administration is increasing pace of Freedom of Navigation operations in disputed waters
The United States is warning China of „consequences“ regarding its militarization in the South China Sea, amid reports of new weapons deployments there.
The Trump administration is also increasing the pace and frequency of patrols in the disputed waters to challenge what it says are overly broad maritime claims by nations, under its Asia policy, the „Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy.“
„We’ve raised concerns directly with the Chinese about this. And there will be near-term and long-term consequences,“ said White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders on Thursday, in response to a question from VOA.
Her remarks come amid media reports that China has deployed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missiles to the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying denied such a deployment has anything to do with militarization.
„China’s peace-building activities in the Spratly Islands — which are China’s own territories, including the deployment of essential national defense facilities, are necessary to safeguard China’s sovereignty and security, as well as the natural rights enjoyed by sovereign states,“ said Hua during a press briefing.
Disputed waters
China claims more than 90 percent of the 3.5 million square kilometer South China Sea, which is rich in fisheries, oil and natural gas and important for shipping lanes.
Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines also claim parts of the of the sea as their own.
In July of 2016, The Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled China’s territorial claims had no legal validity.
Washington said the ruling is binding, but Beijing said it would not recognize its legality.
While the United States is not a claimant to the sovereignty of disputed islands in the South China Sea, Washington has said China’s efforts to militarize outposts in the contested waters endanger the free flow of trade and undermine regional stability, a claim that Beijing rebuts.
