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China is 'destabilising' South China Sea, US defence secretary warns China is destabilising South China Sea, US defence secretary says
(about 2 hours later)
China is "destabilising" the South China Sea region by pursuing territorial disputes with other nations, US defence secretary Chuck Hagel has warned. China is destabilising the South China Sea region by pursuing territorial disputes with other nations, the US defence secretary, Chuck Hagel, has said.
Speaking at an international security conference in Singapore on Saturday, Chuck Hagel said the US would "not look the other way" when nations such as China try to restrict navigation or ignore international rules and standards. Speaking at an international security conference in Singapore on Saturday, Hagel said the US would not look the other way when countries such as China tried to restrict navigation or ignore international rules and standards.
"In recent months, China has undertaken destabilising, unilateral actions asserting its claims in the South China Sea," he said."In recent months, China has undertaken destabilising, unilateral actions asserting its claims in the South China Sea," he said.
But China's president Xi Jinping played down the threat posed by China's running disputes in the area. "We will never stir up trouble, but will react in the necessary way to the provocations of countries involved," Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying after meeting with Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak on Friday. But China's president, Xi Jinping, played down the threat posed by running disputes in the area. "We will never stir up trouble, but will react in the necessary way to the provocations of countries involved," Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying after meeting the Malaysian prime minister, Najib Razak, on Friday.
For the second year in a row, Hagel also used the podium at the Shangri-La conference to accuse China of cyberspying against the US While this has been a persistent complaint by the US, his remark came less than two weeks after it charged five Chinese military officers with hacking into American companies to steal trade secrets. For the second year in a row, Hagel used the podium at the Shangri-La conference to accuse China of cyberspying against the US. While this has been a persistent complaint by the US, his remark came less than two weeks after it charged five Chinese military officers with hacking into American companies to steal trade secrets.
The Chinese, in response, suspended participation in a US-China cyber working group, and released a report that said the US was conducting unscrupulous cyber espionage.The Chinese, in response, suspended participation in a US-China cyber working group, and released a report that said the US was conducting unscrupulous cyber espionage.
Noting the suspension, Hagel in his speech said the US will continue to raise cyber issues with the Chinese, "because dialogue is essential for reducing the risk of miscalculation and escalation in cyberspace." Noting the suspension, Hagel said in his speech that the US would continue to raise cyber issues with the Chinese, "because dialogue is essential for reducing the risk of miscalculation and escalation in cyberspace".
In a string of remarks aimed directly at China, Hagel said the US opposes any nation's use of intimidation or threat of force to assert territorial claims. In a string of remarks aimed directly at China, Hagel said the US opposed any nation's use of intimidation or threat of force to assert territorial claims.
"All nations of the region, including China, have a choice: to unite, and recommit to a stable regional order, or, to walk away from that commitment and risk the peace and security that has benefited millions of people throughout the Asia-Pacific, and billions of people around the world," he said."All nations of the region, including China, have a choice: to unite, and recommit to a stable regional order, or, to walk away from that commitment and risk the peace and security that has benefited millions of people throughout the Asia-Pacific, and billions of people around the world," he said.
China and Japan have been at odds over uninhabited islands in the East China Sea that are controlled by Japan but claimed by both.China and Japan have been at odds over uninhabited islands in the East China Sea that are controlled by Japan but claimed by both.
The US has declined to take sides on the sovereignty issue but has made clear it has a treaty obligation to support Japan. And the US has also refused to recognise China's declaration of an air defence zone over a large swath of the East China Sea, including the disputed islands.The US has declined to take sides on the sovereignty issue but has made clear it has a treaty obligation to support Japan. And the US has also refused to recognise China's declaration of an air defence zone over a large swath of the East China Sea, including the disputed islands.
His remarks drew an immediate challenge from Major-General Yao Yunzhu of China's People's Liberation Army, who questioned if the US and its allies followed international law and consulted with others whey they set up air defence zones. Hagel's remarks drew an immediate challenge from Major-General Yao Yunzhu of China's People's Liberation Army, who questioned if the US and its allies followed international law and consulted with others whey they set up air defence zones.
Yao, director of the Centre for China-America Defence Relations at the PLA's Academy of Military Science, also challenged how the U.S. can say it is not taking a position on the island sovereignty issue, while still saying it is committed to its treaty obligation to support Japan.Hagel said the US and allies consulted with its neighbours and, unlike China, did not unilaterally set up air defence zones. Yao, director of the Centre for China-America Defence Relations at the PLA's Academy of Military Science, also questioned how the US could say it was not taking a position on the island sovereignty issue, while still saying it was committed to its treaty obligation to support Japan.
US officials also have raised concerns about Beijing's decision to plant an oil rig in part of the South China Sea also claimed by Vietnam. The move has led to a series of clashes between the two nations in the waters around the rig, including the recent sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat. Hagel said the US and allies consulted with its neighbours and, unlike China, did not unilaterally set up air defence zones.
Chinese leaders, however, has been equally strong in defending their territorial actions, and have blamed the Obama administration's new focus on Asia for emboldening some of the disputes. US officials have raised concerns about Beijing's decision to plant an oil rig in part of the South China Sea also claimed by Vietnam. The move has led to a series of clashes between the two nations in the waters around the rig, including the recent sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat.
Chinese leaders, however, have been equally strong in defending their territorial actions, and have blamed the Obama administration's new focus on Asia for emboldening some of the disputes.