Top US officials reject Chinese demand to stop military moves that ‘undermine’ Beijing’s sovereignty in South China Sea
- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US Defence Secretary James Mattis meet with Chinese counterparts in Washington
- Despite differing views, Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe described talks as constructive ‘so that this military relationship will be a source of stability’
Top US officials rejected a warning by China on Friday to stop sending American vessels into the South China Sea, the latest focus of military tensions after warships from the two navies nearly collided in the disputed waters.
The warning and its dismissal came at a top-level “diplomatic security dialogue” in Washington, jointly chaired by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary James Mattis, Chinese politburo member Yang Jiechi and Defence Minister Wei Fenghe.
In a news conference after the meeting, Yang warned his hosts that “the United States should stop sending its vessels and military aircraft close to Chinese islands and reefs and stop actions that undermine Chinese sovereignty and security interests”.
Mattis responded that “the United States will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows,” while Pompeo criticised China’s “militarisation” of the South China Sea.
Yang, China's highest-ranking diplomat and director of the Office of Foreign Affairs of the Central Commission of China's ruling Communist Party, dismissed that accusation by asserting Beijing’s sovereignty over the disputed area.
