By: Sam LaGrone
Chinese officials took aim at U.S. assertions freedom of navigation rights in the South China Sea were being restricted by Beijing in a terse Monday statement.
The defensive statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused “certain countries” of fomenting discord in the region “driven by hidden motives.”
“I am afraid the negative publicity campaign on freedom of navigation and over-flight in the South China Sea launched by certain countries is driven by hidden motives,” read the statement from ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.
“By sensationalizing the so-called tensions in the South China Sea, and driving wedges between countries in the region, they are trying to justify their political and military involvement in the South China Sea issue. That is what they really want.”
The Monday statement is a direct rebuttal to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter’s Friday speech at the Shangri-La dialogue in Singapore in which he said China was risking isolation from the rest of the international community with their expansive claims.
“China has taken some expansive and unprecedented actions that have generated concerns about China’s strategic intentions,” Carter said.
“And countries across the region have been taking action and voicing concerns publicly and privately, at the highest levels, in regional meetings, and global [forums]. As a result, China’s actions in the South China Sea are isolating it, at a time when the entire region is coming together and networking. Unfortunately, if these actions continue, China could end up erecting a Great Wall of self-isolation.”
The Monday statement from the ministry follows a tough speech from Adm. Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of general staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in which he said China would stay the course with its South China Sea plans.
“China will not bear the consequences, nor will it allow any infringement upon its sovereignty and security interests or stay indifferent to the irresponsible behavior of some countries in and around the South China Sea,” Sun said.
“We were not isolated in the past, we are not isolated now, we will not be isolated in the future.”
Sun went on to say that Beijing viewed the state U.S. position of neutrality in the region in the region as dubious, citing three U.S. freedom of navigation operations near Chinese holdings near two artificial islands in the Spratly Island chain near the Philippines and one in the Paracels near Vietnam and backing negotiating conditions that would be advantageous to China’s territorial rivals.
“On one hand, they implement the so-called freedom of navigation program by openly showing military muscles in the South China Sea,” he said.
“On the other hand, they support allies confronting China, forcing China to accept and honor the arbitration award. China firmly opposes such behavior.”
In the coming weeks, an international maritime law tribunal is set to issue a ruling over Scarborough Shoal, a reef near the Philippines that China seized in 2012. Sun reiterated China’s position that Beijing would not recognize a ruling and would retain the feature.
U.S. and other regional nations worry that China could begin land reclamation on the reef that would give Beijing an installation 150 miles off the coast of the Philippines and only 220 miles from the capital of Manila.
U.S. officials, notably Pacific Command Commander Adm. Harry Harris, have lamented the potential coercive effect China’s installations could be to free exercise of maritime rights in the region.
‘Principled’ Approach
For its part, during Shangri-La, the U.S. called for a “principled” approach to defusing tensions in the South China Sea based on the tenants of international maritime law, which
“It’s principle that we side with, not a dispute between the United States and China, it’s a question of principle,” Carter said in response to questions following his Friday speech in which he used variations of the word “principle” 36 times according to the written transcript.
Additionally, Carter said the Pentagon’s rebalance to the Pacific was intended for the U.S. to lead security efforts in the region – a role China said it wants to occupy.
“Our rebalance is a critical ingredient of our overall policy. By expanding the reach of all and responsible sharing the security burden represents the next wave of Asia-Pacific security,” Carter said Friday.
“Our rebalance ensures the U.S. will remain the primary provider of regional security.”
During the dialogue, U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson visited USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) for two days. The Stennis Carrier Strike Group has been operating in the South China Sea for almost two months.
In remarks to sailors aboard, Richardson said U.S. military presence in the region was key to ongoing regional stability.
“Everybody in the region is concerned about the stability the peacefulness and prosperity of everyone in this region. As I talk to them, I know things are going to be OK because we have the John C. Stennis Strike Group on station here in the South China Sea,” he said in a video posted to Facebook.
“When people talk about regional security, when they talk about stability, when they talk about maintaining the peace, when they talk about strategic implications of this part of the world – they are talking about you. They all take great comfort in the fact that John C. Stennis is here, present in the South China Sea.”
The following is the complete June 6, 2016 statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying’s Remarks on Freedom of Navigation and Overflight in the South China Sea Discussed at the Shangri-La Dialogue
2016/06/06
Q: When talking about the South China Sea issue at the Shangri-La Dialogue, some people expressed concern about freedom of navigation and over-flight in the South China Sea. What is China’s comment?
A: We have noted the remarks.
The problem about freedom of navigation and over-flight in the South China Sea is a false statement. All countries have unimpeded access to normal navigation and flight activities in the South China Sea. We have never heard about any country encountering any problem. China respects and supports freedom of navigation and over-flight in the South China Sea to which all countries are entitled under international law, and has worked relentlessly for that together with other coastal states in the South China Sea. The international community knows that well.
I am afraid the negative publicity campaign on freedom of navigation and over-flight in the South China Sea launched by certain countries is driven by hidden motives. By sensationalizing the so-called tensions in the South China Sea, and driving wedges between countries in the region, they are trying to justify their political and military involvement in the South China Sea issue. That is what they really want.
China is the largest coastal state in the South China Sea. To ensure freedom of navigation and over-flight in the South China Sea meets not only the requirement of international law but also China’s fundamental interests. China will continue to do so and keep the shipping lane in the South China Sea unobstructed. We also hope that relevant countries will stop disturbing peace and stability of the region under the pretext of safeguarding or exercising freedom of navigation.
Sam LaGrone is the editor of USNI News. He was formerly the U.S. Maritime Correspondent for the Washington D.C. bureau of Jane’s Defence Weekly and Jane’s Navy International. He has covered legislation, acquisition and operations for the Sea Services and spent time underway with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Canadian Navy.
This story first appeared on USNI News & is reposted here under a Creative Commons license.