South China Sea row at boiling point: US warns Beijing over ‘unacceptable’ military action
THE United States has issued a stark warning that it will not accept China’s militarisation of man-made islands in the South China Sea.
By SOFIA PETKAR
Express.co.uk
Sat, Jun 3, 2017
Speaking at a security conference in Singapore, Defence Secretary James Mattis said such moves undermined regional stability and would not be tolerated.
China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea – through which about £3.9trillion in ship-borne trade passes each year – are contested by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
In his speech at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue forum, General Mattis said: “We oppose countries militarising artificial islands and enforcing excessive maritime claims.
“We cannot and will not accept unilateral, coercive changes to the status quo.”
President Donald Trump and other senior US officials have repeatedly stated that they would protect its interests in the South China Sea – a key shipping route.
During his nomination hearing earlier this year, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned that the US was “going to have to send China a clear signal that first the island-building stops, and second your access to those islands also is not going to be allowed.”
In response, the Chinese foreign ministry said Beijing would “remain firm to defend its rights in the region”.
The Rest…HERE
