Uploaded August 2015 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
When ASEAN members recently met, they issued a joint statement, noting that land reclamation efforts in the South China Sea have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability. But they did so without mentioning China by name, or acknowledging that even their own members are performing similar work in their exclusive economic zones.
When U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, he failed to get China to budge.
Wang Yi said, "For instance, what is to be stopped? As parties have different positions, what are the criteria for stopping? Who will set the specific criteria? There is no answer to these questions. That said, China still welcomes constructive suggestions from all countries on maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. But such suggestions must be feasible and, more importantly, should not impose double standards."
For the United States, the key issue has always been the freedom of navigation through what most of the world perceives as international waters. To date, there hasn’t been a problem, but China's ambassador in the Philippines, Zhao Jianhua indicated things may be changing.
The ambassador noted, "Freedom of navigation does not mean to allow other countries to intrude into the airspace or the sea which is sovereign. No country will allow that. We say freedom of navigation must be observed in accordance with international law. No freedom of navigation for warships and airplanes."
While the US may not get riled up at land reclamation efforts in disputed territories, it will not sit idly by and told it cannot fly its planes or sail its ships in areas considers international, because Beijing dictates it.
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When ASEAN members recently met, they issued a joint statement, noting that land reclamation efforts in the South China Sea have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability. But they did so without mentioning China by name, or acknowledging that even their own members are performing similar work in their exclusive economic zones.
When U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, he failed to get China to budge.
Wang Yi said, "For instance, what is to be stopped? As parties have different positions, what are the criteria for stopping? Who will set the specific criteria? There is no answer to these questions. That said, China still welcomes constructive suggestions from all countries on maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. But such suggestions must be feasible and, more importantly, should not impose double standards."
For the United States, the key issue has always been the freedom of navigation through what most of the world perceives as international waters. To date, there hasn’t been a problem, but China's ambassador in the Philippines, Zhao Jianhua indicated things may be changing.
The ambassador noted, "Freedom of navigation does not mean to allow other countries to intrude into the airspace or the sea which is sovereign. No country will allow that. We say freedom of navigation must be observed in accordance with international law. No freedom of navigation for warships and airplanes."
While the US may not get riled up at land reclamation efforts in disputed territories, it will not sit idly by and told it cannot fly its planes or sail its ships in areas considers international, because Beijing dictates it.
Connect with me on social media and the internet!
e-mail: podcast@asianewsweekly.net
Twitter: twitter.com/SteveMillerANW
Facebook: facebook.com/asianewsweekly
Podcast: asianewsweekly.net
