The US State Department is accusing China of going back on its word to not militarise the Spratly Islands. 9News
China “uses these militarised outposts as platforms of coercion to assert control over waters to which Beijing has no lawful maritime claim, Ortagus said. “They serve as staging grounds for the hundreds of maritime militia vessels and China Coast Guard ships that regularly harass civilian craft and impede legitimate law enforcement activities, offshore fishing, and hydrocarbon development by neighboring states.
China denies militarising the region, saying the island developments are intended to increase maritime safety as well as assert Chinese territorial claims. It accuses the U.S. of militarising the area by sailing its ships nearby Chinese outposts in “freedom of navigation operations” and through other actions.China is holding new military exercises in the South China Sea amid an uptick in tensions between the Asian giant and its Southeast Asian neighbors and the U.S.
The Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam have also engaged in push-back against Chinese claims and actions in the area, while progress in talks between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China over the South China Sea appear at a standstill.The Philippine president received rare praise from critics Wednesday for invoking before the United Nations a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated China’s vast territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Duterte, who has nurtured close ties with China since taking office in mid-2016, has long been criticised for refusing to immediately and forcefully demand Chinese compliance with the ruling. It found China’s claims on virtually the entire South China Sea on historical grounds inconsistent with international maritime law.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Did China trick the world into coronavirus lockdown?As the world continues to grapple with coronavirus and the economic catastrophe of lockdown, a disturbing new theory has emerged.
Read more »
One thing we have that China needsChina says its economic recovery is strong but new figures tell a different story. And if it is to truly thrive, it needs something Australia has in abundance.
Read more »
China pushes emergency use of COVID vaccine despite concernsIt's an unusual move that raises ethical and safety questions, as companies and governments worldwide race to develop a vaccine that will stop the spread of the coronavirus. 9News
Read more »
Donald Trump paid just $750 in US income taxes in 2016, 2017: reportPresident Donald Trump paid no federal income taxes in 10 of the past 15 years, according to a report in the New York Times.
Read more »
'Naked ballots' and Ginsburg's death set to collide in the US electionIt's entirely possible a new Supreme Court justice appointed by US President Donald Trump will play a major role if results are tight after the ballots close.
Read more »