Concerned over China’s hostile stance with regards to its claims over disputed territory in South China Sea, the US has urged Beijing and other countries in the region to avoid any kind of provocative or unilateral action that raises tension in the region.
“Our position remains that all concerned parties should avoid any kind of provocative or unilateral action that can raise tensions or undermine the prospect for a negotiated solution. That’s the message that we’re giving the Chinese privately as well,” State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters here.
The US is monitoring the situation and is in touch with the Chinese foreign ministry, she said.
The Pentagon reiterated its call for peaceful resolution of disputes and freedom of navigation in international waters.
Freedom of navigation
“Freedom of navigation is essential for any maritime nation and it applies to every maritime nation everywhere. As a (Asia-Pacific) power, we have a national interest in maritime freedoms,” Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters during an off camera news conference.
Responding to a question, Little called all parties to follow ASEAN Code of Conduct to resolve maritime disputes. Little further mentioned that this was what US Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta has stressed upon.
ASEAN Code of Conduct
“He (Panetta) expressed interest in strengthening ASEAN Code of Conduct, when it comes to maritime rules and norms in the international legal regime in that part of the world,” Little said.
China virtually claims the entire South China Sea in the Pacific as part of its territorial waters from ancient times and asserted its claims by printing the disputed portions on a map in the new e-passports being issued to its citizens.
That has brought regional countries like Vietnam and Philippines out in the open condemning China’s assertions and challenging its claims over the waters.
Keywords: China, South China Sea, China's claims over disputed territory in South China Sea, Victoria Nuland, international waters, freedom of navigation, maritime nation, George Little,
Comments:
china is good in oral bullying and frightening only , do you guys
believe that ? but it is so dumped as s in the real war , and it is even
much more stupid than that , that is its bullying for the loss lot of
times in vietnam history . there4 would you be thinking that china is as
chicken as you are , and if you dare to fight back real hard once then
this fuc ken shi t china won 't try to execute its too much ambition
dream no more
As a communal country it has got lot of children to feed, industries to sustain. We agree, but not by violation all norms and rules. Feed your economy by resources spent on from africa and middle east. A UNSCL law is not to be broken. If so then philippines, vietnam, japan, malaysia and india should enforce an embargo from the UN for China.
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