US concerned with continued militarization of South China Sea: Mattis
The US remains highly concerned with China's continued militarization in the disputed South China Sea, Defense Secretary James Mattis told reporters yesterday traveling with him to Vietnam. China is engaged in territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and with Japan in the East China Sea. Both areas are rich in minerals, oil, and other natural resources. They are also vital to global trade.
China claims almost all of South China Sea
China claims almost all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the area. The US has been conducting regular patrols in the South China Sea to assert freedom of navigation in the area where China has built up and militarized many of the islands and reefs it controls in the region.
Mattis calls China's continued militarization 'predatory economic behavior'
"We remain highly concerned with continued militarization of features in the South China Sea. Plus, we look at what we consider to be almost predatory, in some cases certainly predatory economic behavior," Mattis said.
Pence earlier said that US will fully cooperate with China
Referring to the major policy speech of Vice President Mike Pence last week, Mattis said the Trump administration seeks a relationship with China that's grounded in fairness and respect for sovereignty. "That means respect for international rules and for all nations' sovereignty, whether they're large or small," he said. Pence in his speech reiterated the US will cooperate with China where it can.
Mattis says US, China have to try to manage relationship
"So, we're two large powers, or two Pacific powers, two economic powers. There's going to be times we step on each other's toes, so we're going to have to find a way to productively manage our relationship," Mattis said. He added, "The military relationship is to be a stabilizing force in the relations between the two countries."
Xi had vowed for no militarization of Spratly Island
Referring again to Pence's speech, Mattis said, "And then you're seeing, too, that we continue to sail through areas, but even if you go back to when President Obama and President Xi were meeting in the Rose Garden, President Xi vowed that he wouldn't militarize the Spratly Islands for example." He added that it still happened, but the US's international law policy hasn't changed.
Mattis says it's a matter of respecting sovereignty of nations
Mattis argued that there is no increase in military confrontation, but it is a continuation of a longstanding American policy: international rule of law, prosperity for all nations, sail wherever they wish in international waters, and respect the sovereignty of all nations, peaceful resolution of disputes through international tribunals. After Vietnam, Mattis would travel to Singapore to attend the ASEAN Defense Ministers meeting.
