White House says the free flow of commerce in the South China Sea is something that needs to be maintained
Washington : The situation in the South China Sea, where China is currently engaged in a controversial island reclamation project, is “critical” to the national security interest of the US, the White House has said.
“The (US) President has often talked about how critically important the security situation is in the South China Sea. It’s critical to the national security of the United States,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters at his daily news conference.
“It’s also critical to the global economy that the free flow of commerce in the South China Sea is something that needs to be maintained,” he said, adding the US is committed to working with other countries in the region to protect it. “Because it is a priority you can expect that the President has been briefed on the latest in this situation and will continue to be,” Earnest said in response to a question. A State Department official said the US is “carefully” monitoring China’s military developments. “We continue to urge China to exhibit greater transparency with respect to its capabilities and to its intentions,” State Department spokesperson Jeff Rathke said. “So in conjunction with that, we encourage China to use its military capabilities in a manner that is conducive to maintaining peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region,” he said in response to a question.
He said the US also appreciated Taiwan’s call on claimants to exercise restraint, to refrain from unilateral actions that could escalate tensions, and to respect international law as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention.
Taiwan, China, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines claim all or parts of the 3.5 million-square- kilometer South China Sea.
Of late, China has undertaken landfilling tiny islets in the South China Sea, which is rich in oil, natural gas and fisheries.
It also holds international marine shipping routes. “With regard to the maritime claims and the claims to sovereignty over land features in the South China Sea, our position is that maritime claims must accord with the Law of the Sea.
We have a strong interest in peace and security and in the manner in which claimants address their disputes,” Rathke said. China’s extensive land reclamation efforts in the South China Sea have contributed to rising tensions, he reiterated and said, “under international law it’s clear that land reclamation cannot change the maritime zones of a geographical feature.
Lalit K Jha
