China Describes its requirements for each island South China Sea Thursday was “undisputed” because it opposed the vice president’s actions Kamala Harris This week is called bullying and bullying.
Coral reefs and shallows in energy-rich waters have been disputed by five other claimants, including Taiwan, Vietnam, this the Philippines, Malaysia with Brunei, although Indonesia Claim the right to exclusive fishing areas. Other stakeholders include other coastal countries and parties outside the region, all of which are interested in maintaining key commercial sea lines that pass through the waters.
Beijing responds to local government concerns Artificial island construction And the unilateral moratorium on fishing at sea has been citing history and its vast “Nine segments.”
“China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea Zhudao and its adjacent waters,” Tan Kefei, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, said at a monthly press conference on Thursday.
“China is committed to resolving relevant disputes through negotiations and consultations with the countries directly concerned on the basis of respecting historical facts and international law,” said of the United States.
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China’s neighbors, many of which regard Beijing as their largest trading partner, Their reactions vary Gradually expand through the South China Sea. At the same time, the United States believes that it has provided small and medium-sized countries with the confidence and ability to speak out without worrying about public retaliation-which annoys China.
In a separate foreign policy speech Singapore This week and Vietnam, Vice President Harris said that Beijing “continues Intimidation It also claimed sovereignty over most of the South China Sea.These illegal claims have been Rejected by the 2016 Arbitration Tribunal Decide. “
“Beijing’s actions continue to undermine the rule-based order and threaten national sovereignty. In the face of these threats, the United States stands with our allies and partners,” she said.
In Hanoi, Harris stated that the United States and its partners “need to find ways to put pressure on Beijing and frankly increase pressure to make them comply with the convention.” United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and Bullying that challenges it And excessive maritime claims. “
She called on the Vietnamese government to jointly oppose China’s actions and commit to safeguarding the US’Strong presence in the South China Sea.”
Harris responded to the Secretary of Defense’s comments Lloyd Austin In Singapore last month, he described China’s claims on the vast majority of sea areas as “without international law.” Austin said that this statement “tramples on the sovereignty of countries in the region.”
To counterattack, Tan accused the United States of being a “direct driver of tension” in the disputed waters.
“As an extraterritorial country, the United States ignores international law and the basic norms of international relations, and often uses’Freedom of navigation‘Provoking, disrupting, and constantly undermining regional countries’ efforts to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea,” said a Chinese defense official.
“We urge the US to truly respect China’s core interests and major concerns,” he added, adding that China’s determination to defend its territory is “solid as a rock.”
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