Biden supports Trump’s rejection of China’s South China Sea sovereignty claims

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Washington (Associated Press)-The Biden administration insisted on Sunday that the Trump era rejected almost all major maritime claims of China in the South China Sea. The government also warned China that any attack on the Philippines in the flashpoint area would trigger a US response under the Mutual Defense Treaty.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a stern message in a statement this week before the fifth anniversary of the International Tribunal’s ruling in favor of the Philippines. The ruling opposes China’s use of the Spratly Islands and adjacent coral reefs and shoals in the ocean. Advocate. China refused to accept the ruling.

Before the fourth anniversary of the ruling last year, the Trump administration expressed support for the ruling, but also stated that it believed that almost all maritime claims by China in the South China Sea outside of internationally recognized waters were illegal. The statement on Sunday reiterated the position proposed by Trump’s Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

“There is no more threat to rule-based maritime order than in the South China Sea,” Brinken said, in a language similar to Pompeo. He accused China of continuing to “coerce and intimidate coastal countries in Southeast Asia and threaten the freedom of navigation in this region.” Critical global access. “

“The United States reaffirms its July 13, 2020 policy regarding maritime claims in the South China Sea,” he said, referring to Pompeo’s initial statement. “We also reiterate that armed attacks on the Philippine armed forces, public ships or aircraft in the South China Sea will invoke the United States’ commitment to mutual defense.”

Article 4 of the 1951 “U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty” stipulates that the two countries are obliged to help each other in the event of an attack.

Prior to Pompeo’s statement, US policy had always been to peacefully resolve maritime disputes between China and its smaller neighbors through United Nations-supported arbitration. This transition does not apply to disputes over land characteristics above sea level, which are considered to be “territorial” in nature.

Although the United States continues to maintain its neutrality in territorial disputes, it actually stands with the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, all of which oppose China’s claims for sovereignty over disputed islands and shoals in the South China Sea.

China reacted angrily to the Trump administration’s statement, and is likely to be equally annoyed by the Biden administration’s decision to retain and strengthen it.

“We call on (China) to abide by its obligations under international law, stop provocative behavior, and take measures to assure the international community that China is committed to a rule-based maritime order that respects the rights of all nations, major powers, and regions. Small,” Brinken said in a statement Say,

China rejected the arbitration tribunal’s award, believing that the award was “false” and refused to participate in the arbitration process. In recent years, it has continued to challenge this decision with aggressive actions, causing it to enter into territorial disputes with Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia.

As with last year’s statement, Sunday’s statement came as tensions between the United States and China increased on many issues, including the coronavirus pandemic, human rights, China’s policies in Hong Kong and Tibet, and trade. The relationship plummeted.

China claims to own almost the entire South China Sea and often opposes any actions taken by the US military in the region. The other five governments have full or partial sovereignty over this sea area, and approximately US$5 trillion of goods are transported through these sea areas every year.

China’s attempt to consolidate its claims to the ocean by establishing military bases on coral atolls has led the United States to sail its warships in the area to perform so-called free operations missions. The United States has no sovereignty over this waters, but for decades it has deployed warships and aircraft to patrol busy waterways and promote freedom of navigation and overflight.

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