Daniel Kritenbrink, the US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, stated on Saturday that China’s recent moves in the disputed waterway are “deeply destabilizing” and that the situation in the South China Sea is extremely troubling.
In the midst of growing hostilities between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, over which Vietnam also has territorial claims, Kritenbrink made the remarks while on a visit to Hanoi.
During a briefing for a restricted group of media in Hanoi—a recording of which Reuters examined—Kristenbrink stated, “We think that China’s actions, particularly its recent actions, around the Second Thomas Shoal, vis-à-vis the Philippines have been irresponsible, aggressive, dangerous, deeply destabilizing.”
“We will persist in supporting our Filipino allies,” Kritenbrink declared, stressing that Washington had communicated to Beijing in both public and private that its commitments under the mutual defense pact with the Philippines are “unbreakable.”
Kritenbrink declared, “We’re going to stand with our Filipino allies,” adding that Washington had communicated to Beijing in both public and private that its commitments under the mutual defense pact with the Philippines were “ironclad.”.
Parts of the South China Sea, which is a route for more than $3 trillion in yearly shipborne trade, are claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei, but China controls nearly the whole area. Beijing has disagreed with the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague’s 2016 ruling that China’s claims lacked legal support.
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