US criticises Chinese military drills in disputed South China Sea

WASHINGTON: The US Defence Department expressed concern on Thursday (July 2) about China holding military exercises in the South China Sea, saying the move will further destabilise the situation in the disputed waters.

"The Department of Defence is concerned about the People’s Republic of China (PRC) decision to conduct military exercises around the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on July 1-5," the Pentagon said in a statement.

The activities "further destabilise the situation” in the area.

China announced last week it had scheduled five days of drills starting July 1 near the Paracel Islands, which are claimed by both Vietnam and China.

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"Conducting military exercises over disputed territory in the South China Sea is counterproductive to efforts at easing tensions and maintaining stability," the Pentagon said in a statement.

It added such exercises also violate Beijing’s commitments under the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to avoid activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability.

The declaration, signed by the Asean countries, said that all parties would "avoid activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability."

"The military exercises are the latest in a long string of PRC actions to assert unlawful maritime claims and disadvantage its South-east Asian neighbours in the South China Sea," the Pentagon said, referring to the People's Republic of China.

The Pentagon urged "all parties to exercise restraint and not undertake military activities that might aggravate disputes" in the region, and said it will continue to monitor Chinese military activity.

The Chinese exercises are taking place amid a rise in US-China tensions over the novel coronavirus epidemic, in which Washington has accused Beijing of hiding and downplaying the initial outbreak which was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

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China claims 90 per cent of the potentially energy-rich South China Sea, but Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also lay claim to parts of it, through which about US$3 trillion of trade passes each year.

Washington has rejected Beijing’s territorial claim to much of the South China Sea, including the Paracels. The region is believed to have valuable oil and gas deposits.

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