U.S. President Barack Obama said on Tuesday he and leaders of Southeast Asian countries discussed the need to ease tensions in the South China Sea, and agreed that any territorial disputes there should be resolved peacefully and through legal means. But a joint statement agreed on after a two-day summit with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at the Sunnylands retreat in California did not include the specific mentions Washington had been seeking regarding China and its assertive pursuit of territory in the South China Sea. Obama told a news conference that leaders at the meeting reaffirmed "our strong commitment to a regional order where international rules and norms and the rights of all nations, large and small, are upheld." "We discussed the need for tangible steps in the South China Sea to lower tensions including a halt to further reclamation, new construction and militarization of disputed areas," Obama said. "When ASEAN speaks with a clear and unified voice, it can … [Read more...] about Obama, ASEAN discuss South China Sea tensions, but no joint mention of China
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ASEAN says seriously concerned about rising South China Sea tensions
Southeast Asian nations expressed serious concern on Saturday about growing international tension over disputed waters in the South China Sea. China claims most of the sea but Southeast Asian countries Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam have rival claims. Friction has increased over China's recent deployment of missiles and fighter jets to the disputed Paracel island chain. "Ministers remained seriously concerned over recent and ongoing developments," the 10-members Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) said in a statement after a regular meeting of the group's foreign ministers in Laos. Land reclamation and escalating activity has increased tensions and could undermine peace, security and stability in the region, ASEAN said in the statement. The United States has criticized China's building of artificial islands and facilities in the sea and has sailed warships close to disputed territory to assert the right to freedom of navigation. On Friday, the United States … [Read more...] about ASEAN says seriously concerned about rising South China Sea tensions
U.S. and India consider joint patrols in South China Sea: U.S. official
The United States and India have held talks about conducting joint naval patrols that a U.S. defense official said could include the disputed South China Sea, a move that would likely anger Beijing, which claims most of the waterway. Washington wants its regional allies and other Asian nations to take a more united stance against China over the South China Sea, where tensions have spiked in the wake of Beijing's construction of seven man-made islands in the Spratly archipelago. India and the United States have ramped up military ties in recent years, holding naval exercises in the Indian Ocean that last year involved the Japanese navy. But the Indian navy has never carried out joint patrols with another country and a naval spokesman told Reuters there was no change in the government's policy of only joining an international military effort under the United Nations flag. He pointed to India's refusal to be part of anti-piracy missions involving dozens of countries in the Gulf of Aden … [Read more...] about U.S. and India consider joint patrols in South China Sea: U.S. official
UK says South China Sea air freedoms ‘non-negotiable’
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Thursday on a visit to the Philippines that any attempt to restrict air and sea travel in the disputed South China Sea would be viewed as a "red line". China said it landed three planes over Fiery Cross Reef in recent days, prompting protests from rival claimants Vietnam and the Philippines, and raising fears it could impose military controls in the area. "Freedom of navigation and overflight are non-negotiable. They are red lines for us," Hammond told a joint news conference with his Filipino counterpart, Albert del Rosario, in Manila. Hammond, whose Manila visit followed a trip to China, did not elaborate on what action would be taken if the "red lines" were crossed, other than to say Britain would continue to assert its right to sail in the area. Del Rosario said he was worried that, with the test flights, China was laying the groundwork for the declaration of an Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ), similar to the one it declared in … [Read more...] about UK says South China Sea air freedoms ‘non-negotiable’
U.S. to boost South China Sea freedom of navigation moves, admiral says
The United States, which is worried by China's military buildup to assert dominance in the South China Sea, will increase freedom-of-navigation operations there, a senior Pentagon official said on Wednesday. "We will be doing them more, and we'll be doing them with greater complexity in the future and ... we'll fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows," Admiral Harry Harris, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, told a hearing of the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee. "We must continue to operate in the South China Sea to demonstrate that water space and the air above it is international," Harris said. On Tuesday, Harris said in comments coinciding with a visit to Washington by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that China was "changing the operational landscape" in the South China Sea by deploying missiles and radar as part of an effort to militarily dominate East Asia. China claims its military facilities in the South China Sea are "legal and appropriate," … [Read more...] about U.S. to boost South China Sea freedom of navigation moves, admiral says