Mounting tensions over South China Sea territorial rows could overshadow US-China talks in Beijing Monday, after the two global powers exchanged barbs over the disputed waterway.
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“China hopes the United States will scrupulously abide by its promise to not take sides in relevant territorial disputes and play a constructive role in safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea”, Yang said.
T op U.S. and Chinese defence officials exchanged barbs over the weekend, following a report last week that Beijing plans to enforce an air defence identification zone (ADIZ) in the hotly disputed South China Sea.
Le Drian’s proposal echoes the US justification of its enhanced naval presence in the South China Sea to protect vital commercial shipping lanes through which an estimated $5.3 trillion worth of trade flows annually.
China lays claim to more than 80 percent of the South China Sea, a crucial shipping route through which more than $US5 trillion in trade passes every year.
Analysts say China may have special consideration behind its lighthouse strategy.
Apparently referring to the United States and the Philippines, Sun said “some hegemonic countries have empowered small countries to make provocations against big countries”. At that same meeting, Chinese admiral Sun Jianguo said China advocates patience and dialogue, but rejects the United Nations court’s authority and will not be bullied.
“China could end up erecting a Great Wall of self-isolation”, U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said in a speech delivered on Saturday.
Admiral Sun Jianguo, speaking in a raised voice, made the comments at a plenary session of the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, attended by defence chiefs and experts from around the world.
USA concerns about Chinese trade policy and the difficulty foreign businesses say they face operating in China will add to what will likely be hard discussions. Besides China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have claims in the area, and rising tensions have been fuelling increasing security spending in the region.
The ministry said China is building up of its military presence in the South China Sea with deployments of anti-missile systems, drones and fast missile ships in the area.
He said reporters should ask the question of the defense minister.
“On the other hand, they support allies confronting China, forcing China to accept and honor the arbitration award”.
“The timing of this conference was very sensitive for China, coming just ahead of the tribunal ruling”, said Bonnie Glaser, senior adviser for Asia at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.
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The newly elected president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte has suggested multilateral talks which would include the U.S., Japan and Australia.
