China’s island-building and ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ are part of same defence strategy, says US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
- Overseas infrastructure deals and building in South China Sea are both about national security, he says, drawing closer link between the two
- US is working to ensure countries ‘understand the threat’ of signing up for projects on Beijing’s terms – and Asia is waking up to it, he says
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned on Thursday that China’s island-building in the South China Sea and its sprawling international transport and trade initiative are both part of a broad national defence strategy, stepping up his rhetoric after Italy endorsed Beijing’s infrastructure plan.
The infrastructure that Beijing is building in the South China Sea “is not because they want freedom of navigation”, Pompeo said during a discussion in Washington with National Review editor Rich Lowry.
“Their efforts to build ports around the world are not because they want to be good shipbuilders and stewards of the waterways, but rather they have a state national security element to each and every one of them.
“The ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ is no different,” he said, referring to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s flagship investment programme that was launched in 2013 and aims to build infrastructure in 80 countries.
Pompeo’s comments draw a closer connection between two issues that have caused concern for the United States and its strategic allies. The US’ navy and air force have increased warship and aircraft patrols in the South China Sea to ensure a “free and open” Indo-Pacific, while France has been conducting naval operations through the area since 2014.
“It’s disappointing any time any country begins to engage in behaviour and commercial interactions with China that aren’t straight-up,” Pompeo told the House of Representatives’ foreign affairs committee on Wednesday in response to a question about the Italian decision.
The value of goods transiting the South China Sea is about US$3 trillion a year – a third of global trade. China claims it has sovereignty over the waters, but that is contested by its neighbours, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.
The countries named in China’s belt and road plans account for 68 per cent of the world’s population and 36 per cent of its gross domestic product. Merchandise trade between China and the countries targeted by the initiative is predicted to grow by US$117 billion this year, according to a recent analysis by trade credit insurer Euler Hermes.
“We are working diligently to make sure everyone in the world understands that threat,” Pompeo said. “I think the world is waking up to this, and I think Asia and Southeast Asia in particular is waking up to this threat.”
