Carter said during a visit to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, that all countries in Asia, including China, must stop militarizing their dispute over an island chain and settle it peacefully.
"China's actions are bringing countries in the region together in new ways," he said. "They're increasing demand for American engagement in the Asia-Pacific. We're going to meet it."
Carter said the U.S. would "fly, sail and operate" wherever international law allows.
China has been reclaiming land and building artificial islands in the Spratlys, a group of islands over which several Asian countries claim sovereignty, including China, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
But China, with its powerful military, has been much more aggressive in asserting its claim.
Last week, China ordered a U.S. Navy surveillance plane flying near the islands to leave the area. The Pentagon said the jet was flying over international waters and it refused to leave.
voanews.com
27/5/15
--
-
Related:
GR
FR
DE
ES
IT
RU
EU
U.S. defense chief says China's island-building erodes security...
ReplyDeleteU.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter warned on Saturday that Beijing's island-building in the South China Sea was undermining security in the Asia-Pacific and he called for a diplomatic push to solve the territorial dispute that is driving China's effort.
Carter, speaking to top defense officials from across the Asia-Pacific, acknowledged that several countries had created outposts in the region's disputed islands, but he said the scope of China's activity created uncertainty about its future plans.
"China has reclaimed over 2,000 acres, more than all other claimants combined ... and China did so in only the last 18 months," Carter told the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum. "It is unclear how much farther China will go."
He said the United States was "deeply concerned" about the scale of China's land reclamation and the prospect of further militarization of the islands, saying it would boost "the risk of miscalculation or conflict."
A Chinese military delegate to the forum said the remarks were uncalled for.....reuters.com
US calls for land reclamation 'halt' in South China Sea...
DeleteThe US has called for an "immediate and lasting halt" to land reclamation in disputed areas of the South China Sea.
US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter told the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that China's actions in the area were "out of step" with international rules.
China claims almost the whole of the South China Sea, resulting in overlapping claims with its neighbours.
Chinese officials have described US remarks on the South China Sea as "groundless and not constructive".
Other countries have accused China of illegally taking land to create artificial islands with facilities that could potentially be for military use............http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32941829
30/5/15
The United States on Saturday vowed to keep sending military aircraft and ships to disputed parts of the South China Sea and called for an immediate halt to reclamation works by Beijing in the tense region....
DeleteUS Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told a high-level security conference in Singapore that Beijing's intensifying reclamation activity was "out of step" with international norms.
"First, we want a peaceful resolution of all disputes. To that end, there should be an immediate and lasting halt to land reclamation by all claimants," Carter said at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue on security with a high-level Chinese military delegation attending.
"We also oppose any further militarisation of disputed features," he said.
He acknowledged that other claimants have developed outposts of differing scope and degree, including Vietnam with 48, the Philippines with eight, Malaysia with five and Taiwan with one.
"Yet, one country has gone much farther and much faster than any other.
"And that's China. China has reclaimed over 2,000 acres, more than all other claimants combined and more than in the entire history of the region. And China did so in only the last 18 months," Carter said.
"It is unclear how much farther China will go. That is why this stretch of water has become the source of tension in the region and front-page news around the world."
Chinese actions 'reasonable and justified'
In comments during a question and answer session after Carter's speech, a Chinese military official said his criticism was "groundless and not constructive"...........AFP..........france24.com
30/5/15