The United States on Friday warned China against using force in the waters of the South China Sea, and reiterated its view that the resolute campaign led by China in the disputed waters is illegal.
The US State Department expressed its “concern” about new legislation passed by China that allows its Coast Guard forces to use weapons against foreign ships that enter its waters illegally.
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US State Department spokesman Ned Price said that the Chinese text “strongly indicates that this law can be used to terrorize the sea neighbors of the People’s Republic of China.”
“We remind the People’s Republic of China and all its forces operating in the South China Sea that the responsible maritime forces act professionally and (adopt) restraint in exercising their powers,” he added.
“We are also concerned that China may resort to this new law to confirm its illegal maritime claims in the South China Sea,” he added.
Price pointed out that President Joe Biden’s administration reaffirmed a statement issued in July by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, which considers China’s claims of sovereignty over most of the waters of the South China Sea “absolutely illegal.”
The new Foreign Minister, Anthony Blinken, previously expressed his concern about Chinese maritime law during a phone conversation with his Japanese counterpart, Toshimitsu Motegi.
Blinken confirmed at the time that the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, also claimed by Beijing and called the Diaoyu, were subject to a security treaty that binds the United States and Japan to defend each other.
Source: Agencies
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