The U.S. Navy recently dispatched the USS Fitzgerald to patrol the South China Sea, and U.S. B-52 bombers flew near the disputed Spratly Islands, where China has been building airstrips. “In the meantime, China is strongly against any country using the excuse of navigation and overflight freedom to engage in activities threatening the sovereignty and security of other nations, and facilitating regional militarization”.
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In Manila this week, Obama said the US was giving the Philippines two more ships to protect its borders, then called on China to stop reclamation and construction. “China will be highly vigilant against Japan’s interference in the South China Sea issue, its military return to the South China Sea in particular”.
Indonesia will openly express its opposition to China’s vast claims in the West Philippine (South China) Sea when Southeast Asian senior officials, ministers and leaders gather over the coming days in Kuala Lumpur for a series of annual meetings, stressing that China’s so-called “nine-dash lines” map has no legal basis, a government source said Friday. China ratified the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, guaranteeing unimpeded passage on the high seas for trade, fishing and oil exploration.
China, however, has repeatedly claimed that its land reclamation is legal and has “no intention to militarise” the islands it has created from submerged reefs. The China-led RCEP is a 16-nation trade bloc which includes the ASEAN plus China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
The USA is sailing warships and flying aircraft through an area claimed by Beijing in “freedom of navigation” exercises.
China has been accused of dragging its feet on the code – which could hamper its freedom of action at sea – and seeking to run out the game clock while it works to turn its disputed territorial claims into a fait accompli.
China planned to “exp-and and upgrade” the civilian facilities on the islands “to better serve commercial ships, fishermen, to help distressed vessels and provide more public services”, Mr Liu said, adding that China rejects the notion that it is militarising the South China Sea.
“For this reason, I hope this meeting will open a new chapter for Japan-U.S. security cooperation”, the prime minister said.
“China’s continued support for ASEAN-China cooperation is self-evident”, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak told a meeting with the 10-member grouping and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
Obama said on Saturday the Mali hotel attacks only stiffened the resolve of the United States and its allies, which would be relentless in fighting those targeting its citizens and would allow militants no safe haven.
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He also asked the United States to consider the “good development” of ties between the two countries and in this regard he called to “control” their maritime military operations.
