US Defense Secretary Ash Carter called on Wednesday for an immediate end to island-building by
Carter said China's island-building efforts were "out
of step" with the regional consensus and that US military aircraft and
warships would continue to operate in the area as permitted under international
law.
"China 's
actions are bringing countries in the region together in new ways," he
said in a military ceremony in Hawaii .
"They're increasing demand for American engagement in the Asia-Pacific.
We're going to meet it."
"We will remain the principal security power in the
Asia-Pacific for decades to come," Carter said.
Carter's comments, at Pearl Harbor, came a week after the US
Navy sent a P-8 reconnaissance plane carrying navy and television camera crews
to film Chinese island-building activity in the disputed Spratly
Islands in the South
China Sea .
In Beijing , the foreign ministry
said the United States
had "double standards."
"I want to empathize that the US has been selectively
mute on individual countries that have selectively occupied China's islands and
reefs, but have made irresponsible remarks on the construction activities that
are lawful, fair and reasonable within China’s scope of sovereignty,"
ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular briefing on Thursday.
"The Chinese people can make their own judgment. No one
has the right to tell China
what to do," she added.
"We want a peaceful resolution of all disputes, and an
immediate and lasting halt to land reclamation by any claimant. We also oppose
any further militarization of disputed features," Carter said in his
remarks.
"With its actions in the South China Sea, China is out of
step with both international norms that underscore the Asia-Pacific's security
architecture," he added.
The US
aircraft that flew near the Spratlys was repeatedly warned by a Chinese navy
radio operator to leave the area.
The islands are claimed by several other countries in the
region, including Vietnam ,
the Philippines and Malaysia .
"The US
expressed alarm on unilateral activities that are inconsistent with
international law," Gazmin said in a text message. "Unilateral
actions escalate tensions which may lead to actual conflict. Actions that could
lead to accidents and untoward incidents due to miscalculations should be
avoided."
Carter is on the first leg of a trip that will take him to Singapore for the annual Shangri-La Dialogue
security conference and then on to Vietnam
and India ,
where he will discuss maritime security issues and boosting security ties.
His comments came at a change-of-command ceremony for the US military's
Pacific Command, which is responsible for US forces in the Asia-Pacific region.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/111340/pentagon-chief-urges-end-to-island-building-in-south-china-sea
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