US WARNS THAT BEIJING IS 'DESTABILISING' SOUTH CHINA SEA

US warns that Beijing is ‘destabilising’ South China Sea

Hagel says America will not look the other way if ‘principles of international order are challenged’

US defence secretary Chuck Hagel (left) talks with Japan’s defence minister Itsunori Onodera as they wait for South Korea’s defence minister Kim Kwan-jin to arrive to begin their meeting in Singapore this morning. Photograph: Reuters

Sat, May 31, 2014, 08:07

First published: Sat, May 31, 2014, 08:03

The United States warned China this morning to halt destabilising actions in Asia as Washington and its allies sought to boost defence co-operation in the face of what Japan called an “increasingly severe” security environment.

Using unusually strong language, US defence secretary Chuck Hagel told an Asia-Pacific security forum that the United States was committed to its geopolitical rebalance in the region and “will not look the other way when fundamental principles of the international order are being challenged”.

“In recent months, China has undertaken destabilising, unilateral actions asserting its claims in the South China Sea,” he said in the speech to the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

Members from a pro-Taiwan group “China Youth Service & Recreation Centre”, demanding apology and compensation from Vietnam, protest outside the Vietnamese Consulate in Hong Kong on Thursday. Photograph: ReutersOver 20 people reported killed in anti-China protests in Vietnam
Chinese vessels use water cannons on Vietnamese vessels near the Paracel islands on May 3rd. Chinese boats are alleged to have repeatedly rammed Vietnamese vessels near disputed waters in the South China Sea, where China is stationing an oil drilling platform. Photograph: EPA/Vietnam Coast GuardChina accuses Vietnam of ramming its drilling vessels

Mr Hagel said the United States took no position on the merits of rival territorial claims in the region, but added: “We firmly oppose any nation’s use of intimidation, coercion, or the threat of force to assert these claims.”

Japanese defence minister Itsunori Onodera said Tokyo perceived an “increasingly severe regional security environment”.

“It is unfortunate that there are security concerns in the East and South China Seas,” he said.

“Japan as well as all concerned parties must uphold the rule of law and never attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by force.”

China claims almost the entire oil- and gas-rich South China Seas, and dismisses competing claims from Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia. Japan has its own territorial row with China over islands in the East China Sea.

Tensions have surged in recent weeks after China placed an oil rig in waters claimed by Vietnam, and the Philippines said Beijing could be building an airstrip on a disputed island.

Japan’s defence ministry said Chinese SU-27 fighters came as close as 50 metres to a Japanese OP-3C surveillance plane near disputed islets last week and within 30 metres of a YS-11EB electronic intelligence aircraft.

Yesterday, prime minister Shinzo Abe told the Singapore forum that Tokyo would offer its “utmost support” to Southeast Asian countries in their efforts to protect their seas and airspace, as he pitched his plan for Japan to take on a bigger international security role.

In a pointed dig at China, he said Japan would provide coast guard patrol boats to the Philippines and Vietnam.

In Beijing, president Xi Jinping said China would not initiate aggressive action in the South China Sea but would respond if other countries did, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

“We will never stir up trouble, but will react in the necessary way to the provocations of countries involved,” Xinhua quoted Mr Xi as saying in a meeting yesterday with prime minister Najib Razak of Malaysia.
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