The United States has increasingly carried out what have been called freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea.
This month, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Cartervisited a warship in the South China Sea in an effortto show America’s commitment to security in thearea.
The exercises involve Navy ships and military aircraft. In a freedom of navigation operation, they are sent toareas where other countries have tried to restrictflights or shipping. The aim is to demonstrate that the international community does not accept such restrictions.
The freedom of navigation operations have brought strong reactions from China.
Now, some U.S. lawmakers have called on the Obama Administration to carry out more operations close to artificial islands China is developing in the disputed waterway.
Bob Corker of Tennessee is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He expressed his ideas on Wednesday.
He spoke before Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with the committee.
Corker said the freedom of navigation exercises havenot slowed China’s land reclamation efforts in the South China Sea.
“Neither the rhetoric nor the freedom of navigation operations have deterred or slowed down China’s land reclamation activities, including the stationing ofmilitary-related assets on these artificial islands.”
He said that China could take further actions if aninternational court rules against it in its maritime territorial dispute with thePhilippines. And he warned such a ruling could place American interests atrisk.
“But merely managing differences with China is not a successful formula,particularly when such management cedes U.S. influence and placesAmerican interests at risk in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.”
In his comments, Blinken said the number of freedom of navigationoperations carried out by the U.S. military has increased. He added thatthey will continue.
Recent news reports, notably in The Washington Post and The Wall StreetJournal, say China may be considering plans to develop other areasbeyond the Spratly Islands.
The reports say the U.S. Pacific Command has sent warplanes close toScarborough Shoal, west of the Philippines. China is believed to havecarried out survey work in that area. Those U.S. flights brought a sharpresponse from China.
China claims most of the South China Sea as its territory. However, thePhilippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei have competing claimsto different parts of the area.
Nanjing University security expert Zhu Feng said he could not rule outChinese construction of a lighthouse or a maritime monitoring post onScarborough Shoal. However, he said a large land reclamation would there would be out of the question. The Wall Street Journal reported hiscomments.
I’m Mario Ritter.
Words in This Story
artificial – adj. not natural, man-made
maritime – adj. related to the sea or ocean
formula – n. a plan or method for doing something
monitor – v. to observe or watch
navigation – adj. of or related to the watching and controlling themovement of a vehicle from one place to another
commitment – n. a duty or responsibility
deter – v. to prevent or stop
