More warships are ‘raising the risk’ of misfire in South China Sea
- Former Philippine president Gloria Arroyo joins senior Chinese diplomats to warn of dangers posed by increased military presence
- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says ocean is not a ‘zero-sum game’ and no one should use it as a tool to impose unilateral power
Speaking to a South China Sea forum in Sanya, on the southern Chinese island province of Hainan, on Tuesday via video link, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi blamed an unspecified country for seeking to show off its power and maritime dominance.
“We must adhere to multilateralism and jointly maintain maritime order. The ocean is not a zero-sum game of competition, and no one should use the ocean as a tool to impose unilateral power,” Wang said.
“We oppose that certain countries, for the purpose of safeguarding maritime hegemony, flaunt their forces and form cliques at sea, and continue to infringe on the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of other countries.”
China and the US have been stepping up their military presence in the disputed waters, with increasing risks of an accidental clash. Concerns have escalated as the US has teamed up with its allies, including Britain and France, to send naval vessels to the South China Sea, and diplomatic observers have warned the consequences would be more serious if there was a clash between nuclear submarines.
Last month, the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group and the British carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth conducted a series of exercises in the South China Sea. It was the USS Carl Vinson’s ninth visit to the area this year.