“We oppose the use of force or the threat to use force to advance maritime or territorial claims and we call on all parties in the South China Sea – not just China – to resolve disputes in a peaceful manner”, he said.
Advertisement
Republicans told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday that the Obama administration should make such operations more regular.
Regarding the nuclear issue, President Xi said that China will be adhering the UN Security Council resolution and is committed to denuclearization of the said Korean Peninsula.
The Tennessee senator noted that China is a geopolitical rival for the United States.
Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken says US allies and partners in the region are concerned about China’s land reclamation and militarization of reefs.
He said there is growing regional concern about China’s activities in the South China Sea and consensus around the need to lower tensions.
“There are far more downsides than upsides in the US-China relationship over these last days”, Corker said.
“I don’t (know) why we are not doing it weekly, or monthly”, said committee chairman Senator Bob Corker while referring to the presence of 60% of USA warships in the Pacific region.
China risks “terrible” damage to its reputation if it ignores an impending global court ruling on the South China Sea, the United States says, while urging Southeast Asian countries to rally behind the court decision.
Democratic Senator Robert Menendez said the USA needed to take a stronger stance, adding that USA instruments of national power “are only useful when they are fully deployed”.
During a hearing on US-China relations both Democratic and Republican senators indicated support for more freedom of navigation patrols to limit Beijing from claiming control of trade routes.
The dispute arise after Indonesian maritime officials captured a Chinese trawler in the disputed South China Sea region, alleging that trawler had trespassed into its jurisdiction. While the USA does not take a position on claims to sovereignty, it is interested in maintaining free passageway, mostly because of the enormous amount of maritime traffic moves through South China Sea waters.
Advertisement
It can be recalled that the Philippines has brought its claim in parts of the South China Sea to which, China claims 90 percent of the area, to the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague previous year.
