The United States and an arbitration tribunal are trying to assert themselves into the South China Sea dispute, an action many experts say is unjustified and reeks of colonial-era interventionism.
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After months of expanding its military capabilities in the South China Sea, the Chinese military is preparing to deploy nuclear-armed submarines to the Pacific Ocean, according to a report published Thursday in The Guardian.
China began tourist cruises to the South China Sea on a trial basis in 2013, as part of efforts to cement its claims by boosting the civilian presence there.
US naval officials say they are keen to gradually increase ship visits, but are aware of Vietnamese concerns over pushing China too hard.
“Apart from policy divergence, Japan, as the host country, is apparently putting its own intentions above seeking the common interests of the group or the world”, the Xinhua article said.
Although the statement did not mention China specifically and called on all nations to refrain from artificial island building in the South China Sea, Beijing reacted strongly by accusing the group of taking sides.
Abe greeted U.S. President Barack Obama and other G7 partners one-by-one at Ise Grand Shrine in central Japan, dedicated to sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami, mythical ancestress of the emperor.
The relationship between the United States and the Philippines is well-known, with the latter once being nearly a USA colony and being considered one of the regional spots of US influence, former Egyptian ambassador to China Mahmoud Allam told Xinhua.
“It doesn’t help the situation, as all these issues can only be solved after more consultations with China”, said Mr Song. And while Beijing has long argued that its intentions are good and peaceful, it’s massive buildup of artificial islands in the disputed waters, which include airstrips and military facilities, and claim to nearly all of the South China Sea have been a growing point of concern.
China claims nearly all of the strategically vital South China Sea despite rival claims from Southeast Asian neighbours and has rapidly built reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes.
“I have made it very clear that the South China Sea issue has nothing to do with the G7 and its members”.
China’s unpleasant remarks comes just ahead of Indian President Parnab Mukherjee visit, who is scheduled to land in Guangzhou on My 24.
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Both Reed Bank and Scarborough Shoal lie in the Philippines’ 200-mile exclusive economic zone, Aquino said, calling China’s actions a violation of a 2002 pact on the South China Sea between China and ten Southeast Asian nations.
