Pompeo criticizes Chinese coercion in South China Sea
Secretary Pompeo urged Southeast Asian allies to speak out against Chinese coercion in the South China Sea.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday [August 1] criticized China for “coercion” in the South China Sea as he attended the ongoing 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) in Thailand.
US State Secretary Mike Pompeo at the 52nd AMM. Photo: Reuters
|
Pompeo made the statement at the 10-member bloc’s event following recent incidents between Chinese and Vietnamese ships, Chinese and Philippine ships and China's infringement of Vietnam’s territorial waters, and harassment of Vietnamese long-lasting oil operations in its continental shelf.
In another move, Pompeo said on the same day that Washington isn’t asking any Asian nation to take side as it engages with the region where China is battling for influence and aggressively expanding irrational territorial claims in the South China Sea.
“Look, we don’t ever ask any Indo-Pacific nations to choose between countries. Our engagement in this region has not been and will not be a zero-sum exercise. Our interests simply naturally converge with yours to our mutual benefit,” Pompeo said in a speech at the annual meeting with his ASEAN counterparts, AP reported.
US State Secretary Mike Pompeo and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the 52nd AMM. Photo: Reuters
|
He hailed an Indo-Pacific engagement framework adopted by the leaders of Southeast Asian nations in June, saying it supports sovereignty, transparency, good governance and a rules-based order among other things.
The US-China rivalry fueled by their trade disputes has put the 10-member ASEAN bloc in a tight spot and the new framework is aimed at finding a middle ground to keep on the good side of both Washington and Beijing.
Beijing has been attempting to project its influence globally through its “Belt and Road” initiative, an ambitious development program of major infrastructure projects.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo shakes hands with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh at the 52nd AMM. Photo: AP
|
China’s assertive territorial claims in the South China Sea, through which a third of global shipping passes, has drawn rebuke from the US and become a flashpoint for a region in which ASEAN members Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei have claims to the waters.
ASEAN and China have for years been working on a Code of Conduct meant to govern the waterway and make the area more stable.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi later Thursday said Beijing will not let anyone block its right to development.
“It is neither fair nor possible to try to obstruct China’s development,” Wang said in remarks to reporters provided by the Chinese delegation after talks with Pompeo on the sidelines of the ASEAN meetings.
In March this year, Pompeo said China, by blocking development in the South China Sea through coercive measures, was preventing ASEAN members from accessing more than US$2.5 trillion in recoverable energy reserves.
18:15, 2024/12/19
Highlights of Vietnam International Defense Expo 2024
A display of defense innovations at the Vietnam International Defense Expo 2024.
20:04, 2024/12/03
Vietnamese Pho continues to spread its international reach
Pho has followed Vietnamese people around the globe as a traditional dish loved by many foreigners, contributing to honoring the culinary culture of the “S-shaped country”.
17:10, 2024/10/25
Hanoi students honored for creative logo celebrating German-Vietnamese ties
The red, yellow and black logo designed by two students from Hanoi has won the logo design competition to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Germany and Vietnam.
10:44, 2024/10/06
Vietnam condemns violence by Chinese authorities in Hoang Sa
Vietnam expresses its discontent and vehement objection to the brutal actions of Chinese law enforcement authorities in the Hoang Sa archipelago, which have resulted in Vietnamese fishermen being injured, their lives threatened and their property damaged.
19:03, 2024/09/14
Hanoi set to pilot centralized government services
The centralized building and those of its branches for government services would be equipped with the latest facilities and technologies.
15:15, 2024/09/02
Vietnam National Day: Insights from expats
Vietnam’s glorious history and national pride on National Day has captivated international friends in Hanoi.
- Musical featuring the Spratlys to be aired
- Countries recognize Vietnam’s right to claim extended continental shelf in UN submission
- Vietnam submits limits of continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in respect of the East Sea's Central area
- Vietnam firmly rejects any activities in violation of its sovereignty over Hoang Sa, Truong Sa
- Dien Bien Phu Battle in memories of war veterans
- Vietnamese people flock to Dien Bien Phu to commemorate resounding victory