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China is destabilising South China Sea, US defence secretary says China is destabilising south-east Asia, US defence secretary says
(about 9 hours later)
China is destabilising the South China Sea region by pursuing territorial disputes with other nations, the US defence secretary, Chuck Hagel, has said. China's aggressive moves to claim jurisdiction over land and sky in the Asia-Pacific risk undermining peace and security in the region and beyond, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Saturday. Beijing scoffed as the "groundless" charges.
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. Hagel told an international security conference that the US "will not look the other way" when China and others try 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. Chin's territorial claims in the South China Sea are destabilising the region, he said, adding that Beijing's failure to resolve such disputes threatens East Asia's long-term progress.
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. A Chinese general took issue with Hagel's comments, saying that "although I do think that those criticisms are groundless, I do appreciate your candor."
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. Lieutenant General Wang Guanzhong, deputy chief of the general staff, told Hagel during a brief meeting after the defense secretary's speech: "You were very candid this morning and, to be frank, more than our expectation."
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. Reporters were taken from the meeting room before Hagel responded. But the Pentagon press secretary, Rear Admiral John Kirby, said Hagel told Wang all regional disputes should be solved through diplomacy, and encouraged China to foster dialogue with neighbouring nations.
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". As he did in 2013, Hagel used his appearance at the Shangri-La conference to single out China for cyberspying against the US. While this has been a persistent complaint, his remarks came less than two weeks after the Obama administration charged five Chinese military officers with hacking into American companies to steal trade secrets.
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. The Chinese, in response, suspended participation in a US-China Cyber Working Group, and released a report that said the US is conducting "unscrupulous" cyber-espionage and that China is a major target.
Noting the suspension, Hagel 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".
In comments aimed directly at China, Hagel said the US opposes any country'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, but has made clear it has a treaty obligation to support Japan. The US also has refused to recognize China's declaration of an air defense zone over a large swath of the East China Sea, including the disputed islands.
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. In response, Major General Yao Yunzhu of China's People's Liberation Army questioned whether 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 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. Yao, director of the Center for China-America Defense Relations at the PLA's Academy of Military Science, also challenged how the US 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.Hagel said the US and allies consulted with its neighbours and, unlike China, did not unilaterally set up air defence zones.
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. While the two public exchanges with the Chinese officials were sharp, a senior US defence official described Hagel's private meeting with Wang as fairly amicable.
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. The official, who was not authorized to discuss the meeting publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Wang began by criticising the speech, but also talked about increasing military cooperation with the US and the two nations' trade relationship.
The official said Wang indicated China was looking forward to participating in a major military exercise in the Pacific with the US and other nations later this year.
US officials also have raised concerns about Beijing's decision to place 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 have blamed the Obama administration's new focus on Asia for emboldening some of the disputes.
But some Asian leaders have expressed worries that the US is doing little more than paying lip service to the complaints, fueling doubts about America's commitment to the region.
In an effort to address those concerns, Hagel also used his speech to reassure Asia-Pacific nations that despite persistent budget woes and increasing demands for military aid across Africa and Europe, the US was strongly committed to Asia.
Allies have questioned how serious the US is about its renewed focus on Asia, particularly as the recent unrest in Ukraine and terrorist threats in North Africa have garnered more attention. Also, President Barack Obama's national security speech this past week made no mention of the Asia-Pacific.
"The rebalance is not a goal, not a promise or a vision – it is a reality," Hagel said.
He laid out a list of moves the US has made to increase troops, ships and military assets in the region, provide missile defense systems to Japan, sell sophisticated drones and other aircraft to Korea, and expand defense cooperation with Australia, New Zealand and India.