The United States’ operating in global waters in the South China Sea should not come as a surprise and would not be a provocative act, the U.S. Navy’s most senior uniformed officer said on Thursday.
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The warship or ships would pass within the 12-mile territorial limit China claims around the structures to demonstrate that U.S. commanders do not recognize it.
“Nearly three quarters of our trade moves through that South China Sea, so I think it’s quite legitimate for us to have a view on the need to make sure that we’ve got passage”, Bishop said.
Disputes over areas of the South China Sea have been raging for decades, with China staking the largest claim of sovereignty over the islands, and the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, among other countries, also making proposals. But the Australian Foreign Minister revealed to support “the principles of freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight”.
In this regard, it said, they reiterated the importance of an expeditious conclusion on a Code of Conduct and full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration of the Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
The Communist Party-run Global Times newspaper, whose opinions often reflect government opinion, said in an editorial China “absolutely must not permit the US side’s warships and planes to behave unscrupulously near islands and reefs claimed by China”.
“We will do that in the time and places of our choosing”, Carter added.
The U.S. and its allies, including the Philippines, insist that the newly made islands threaten stability in an increasingly militarised region. The joint statement issued after the meeting referred to South China Sea as West Philippine Sea, a name which Philippine started to use only after escalation of its maritime dispute with China in the region.
The lighthouses on Huayang (Cuarteron) and Chigua (Johnson South) reefs went into operation on October. 10 and have significantly improved navigation safety in the South China Sea, Hua said.
Bishop welcomed a statement by Chinese President Xi Jinping last month that China did not intend to militarize the islands and said she hoped Beijing would stick to the commitment. And the South China Sea is not and will not be an exception. China’s military – especially its navy – is gathering formidable capabilities.
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“And what we consider is important is that it is important for giant nations to primarily not bully smaller nations over these territorial claims; that that’s counterproductive and isn’t constant with the sorts of worldwide norms which might be, frankly, most within the curiosity of massive nations”, Earnest stated.
