US forces will keep operating in South China Sea ‘as long as international law allows’
There will also be no retreat from Washington’s pivot in Asia regardless of who wins November’s presidential election, says vice president Joe Biden
US military forces will continue to operate in the South China Sea in accordance with international law, the US Chief of Naval Operations John Richardson said during a visit to a Chinese naval base on Wednesday.
US military forces will continue to operate in the South China Sea in accordance with international law, the US Chief of Naval Operations John Richardson said yesterday during a visit to a Chinese naval base.
China has refused to recognise a law of the sea tribunal ruling in The Hague that invalidated its vast territorial claims in the South China Sea and did not take part in the proceedings brought by the Philippines.
China has repeatedly blamed the United States for stirring up trouble in the South China Sea, a strategic waterway through which more than US$5 trillion of trade moves annually.
China, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam all have rival claims, of which China’s is the largest.
The US has conducted freedom of navigation patrols close to Chinese-held islands, to Beijing’s anger, while China has been bolstering its military presence there.
Meeting Yuan Yubai, commander of the Chinese North Sea Fleet, Richardson “underscored the importance of lawful and safe operations in the South China and elsewhere professional navies operate”, the US Navy said.
US forces would keep sailing, flying and operating wherever international law allowed, Richardson added.
Freedom of navigation patrols carried out by foreign navies in the South China Sea could end “in disaster”, a senior Chinese admiral said over the weekend.
Xinhua said yesterday that countries outside the region should stay out of the South China Sea issue lest they cause unwanted problems.
“Western countries have a long history of failing to establish orderly rule over parts of the world. The Middle East is a classic example,” it said.
Richardson said he was supportive of deepening of ties between the US and Chinese navies.
Speaking in Sydney on Wednesday, US Vice-President Joe Biden assured ally Australia there would be no retreat from Washington’s pivot to the Asia-Pacific region, regardless of who won November’s presidential election.
Speaking in Sydney yesterday, US Vice President Joe Biden assured ally Australia there would be no retreat from Washington’s pivot to the Asia-Pacific region, regardless of who wins November’s presidential election.
