31 July 2015

Editorial: Beijing Strikes Back - U.S. ‘Militarizing' South China Sea

By Franz-Stefan Gady

China’s Defense Ministry is retaliating against recent U.S. remarks in kind.

China’s Defense Ministry has openly criticized the United States over its South China Sea policy accusing the U.S. of “activities to militarize the South China Sea region,” defense ministry spokesperson Yang Yujun said during a press conference on July 30.

He also accused U.S. officials of “making irresponsible remarks on the South China Sea issue” and applying “double standards” when it comes to assessing their own activities in the region.

“The U.S. side disregards and distorts the fact, and plays up ‘China’s military threat’ to sow discords between China and China’s maritime neighbors in the South China Sea. We firmly oppose such actions,” Yang emphasized.

The spokesperson also accused the U.S. of not openly speaking out against construction activities of other claimants such as the Philippines or Vietnam, despite U.S. Defense Secretary’s remarks at this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue that “there should be an immediate and lasting halt to land reclamation by all claimants.”

Read the full story at The Diplomat