Pentagon report ‘severely damaged’ relations — China

From the Daily Tribune (May 16): Pentagon report ‘severely damaged’ relations — China

China yesterday accused the United States of deliberately distorting the facts in a report on the Asian giant’s defense policy, warning Washington it had “severely damaged” trust between the superpowers.

The Pentagon has earlier said Beijing had been building up military facilities on reefs and islets in a bid to assert its claims to the contested waters of the South China Sea.

China’s military has also been using “coercive tactics” to foster tensions with its neighbors, but will ensure they do not snowball into outright conflict, according to the annual report to Congress.

But Beijing hit back in comments published in state media, with a defense ministry spokesman saying the Pentagon report had “deliberately distorted China’s defense policies.”

“It is the United States that has been flexing military muscles by frequently sending military aircraft and warships to the region,” spokesman Yang Yujun said, according to the official news agency Xinhua.

“The US annual report on China’s military and security developments has severely damaged mutual trust between the two sides.”

Yang accused the US of being behind the “militarization in the South China Sea,” parts of which are claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia as well as China.

The South China Sea, an important shipping route thought to be home to vast energy deposits, has become a growing source of tension between Beijing and Washington as the US turns its focus on Asia.

Washington fears Beijing is seeking to impose military controls over the entire area, where China has built massive structures including radar systems and airstrips on reclaimed reefs and islets.

The Pentagon report estimated China has reclaimed 1,300 hectares of land around the Spratly Islands, also claimed by the Philippines, over the past two years.

Beijing has been angered by the growing US attention on Asia and US forays into the Sea, including sailing warships close to reclaimed islands.

Arbitration reasonable

In Manila, Malacañang yesterday said the Philippines is right in seeking the assistance of the international arbitration court to resolve its case against China over disputed territory in the South China Sea.

According to presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.,  the participation of the Philippines in the arbitration proceedings is in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).

China has refused to take part in the arbitration and wanted the maritime row to be resolved peacefully through negotiations between the parties directly concerned.
Coloma stressed China, as one of the signatories of the Unclos, should join the arbitration.

The United States, the United Kingdom and Japan are among the countries which have expressed their support to a peaceful settlement of the Philippines-China sea row.

The UN Charter and international laws encourage peaceful settlement of rows through dialogue while the Unclos respects the decision of the parties concerned to choose how to settle the disagreement.      

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/pentagon-report-severely-damaged-relations-china