The Pentagon chief made his comments Tuesday after meeting in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart, Chang Wanquan.
Hagel said Washington is "fully committed" to treaties obliging it to protect its longtime allies Japan and the Philippines.
Japan and the Philippines are among several Asian countries that accuse China of using intimidation to advance its maritime claims.
Hagel also renewed U.S. criticism of the air defense identification zone set up by China last year that covers islands also claimed by Tokyo.
"The United States has been very clear on this issue. And that is that, first, every nation has a right to establish air defense zones, but not a right to do it unilaterally, with no collaboration, no consultation. That adds to tensions, misunderstandings, and could eventually add to, and eventually get to, dangerous conflict," said Hagel.
- At a joint news conference, Chang stood firm on the Chinese position, vowing Beijing will "make no compromise, no concession" on the disputes.
- He said while China is always ready to use force if necessary, it "will not take up the initiative to stir up troubles" with its neighbors.
"As to territorial disputes over islands and reefs and maritime borders, China stands ready to resolve the issues through negotiations with the countries directly involved," said Chang.
The territorial disputes, and corresponding tensions, have been a main focus of Hagel's three-day visit to China.
- On Monday, Hagel visited the Chinese port city of Qingdao for a two-hour tour of the nation's only aircraft carrier, the Liaoning.
The move was praised by U.S. defense officials who have long called for China's military to become more transparent.
The China visit is part of Hagel's 10-day tour across the Asia-Pacific to reassure allies that the U.S. is committed to their defense.
During a stop in Tokyo, Hagel said Washington plans to send two more missile defense warships to Japan to counter the North Korean threat.
Many Chinese officials are skeptical about expanded U.S. military involvement in Asia, fearing it is an attempt to contain Beijing's rise.
[voanews.com]
8/4/14
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PLA (People’s Liberation Army) pledges to defend East China Sea (video cctv). -Japanese military planes defy China's new air zone.
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China calls on U.S. to restrain ally Japan as tension simmers...
ReplyDelete(Reuters) - China called on the United States on Tuesday to restrain ally Japan and chided another U.S. ally, the Philippines, at the end of talks between American and Chinese defense chiefs that showed the strain of regional territorial disputes on Sino-U.S. ties.
The forceful comments by Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan came just a day after U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel toured China's sole aircraft carrier, in a rare opening by Beijing to a potent symbol of its military ambitions.
Chang and Hagel spoke positively about improving military ties and announced steps to deepen them further. But the effort could do little to mask long-standing tension over of a range of issues, including in cyberspace but focused mainly on the two U.S. allies locked in territorial disputes with China.
China claims 90 percent of the 3.5 million sq km (1.35 million sq mile) South China Sea, where the Philippines, along with other countries, stake claims. China has a separate dispute with Japan in the East China Sea over uninhabited islets that are administered by Japan.
Chang asked the United States to "keep (Japan) within bounds and not to be permissive and supportive", and railed against the government of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who Hagel met in Tokyo last weekend.
"It is Japan who is being provocative against China," Chang told a news conference after talks with Hagel..........http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/08/us-china-usa-idUSBREA370N020140408?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews
8/4/14