[ad_1]
China and the Southeast Asian states will hold their first joint maritime exercises next week, officials said Friday in an attempt to calm tensions but could trigger the US warning.
Beijing's claims regarding the South China Sea have long been expanded a source of friction with rival claimants in Southeast Asia, as well as Washington, which was traditionally the dominant naval power in the region.
Despite disagreements over Beijing's territorial ambitions, China and Southeast Asia are trying to take a more conciliatory tone in order to prevent tensions from escalating dangerously.
In this context, the Chinese navies and 10. members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will hold their first joint exercises, which will be held in the South China Sea.
"As we speak, ASEAN navies are on their way to Zhanjiang in China The Singapore Defense Minister, Ng Eng Hen, said during a maritime exercise held during the summer. A meeting of ASEAN Defense Ministers in Singapore, which was also attended by US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and his Chinese counterpart, "Building Trust, Trust."
The City of Zhanjiang, in southern China, houses the South Sea People's Liberation Army fleet
Simulation exercises between ASEAN and China were held in Singapore in August, preparing for next week's exercises
US authorities may be alarmed by the fact that Southeast Asian allies and traditional partners seem to be getting closer to China, while US president already worries about the commitment of the United States in the Donald Trump region.
In an apparent effort to alleviate these fears, Mr Ng also said that ASEAN was planning to hold maritime exercises with the United States for the first time next year.
Hoang Thi Ha, Political Analyst at ISEAS Yusof The Singapore Ishak Institute said that next week's exercises aimed to "demonstrate that China and ASEAN are managing their problems well maritime ".
But she added that her importance should not be overestimated since it was a punctual exercise in waters "The United States does not lose ground exactly because 39, ASEAN chooses to be open and inclusive, "she told AFP.
Southeast Asian Defense Ministers also agreed on guidelines to avoid unplanned encounters. Ng said that "their objectives will be shared between their military planes and they will be offered to other countries, including the United States and China," said Ng.
They aim to reduce the risk of confusion.
Four members of ASEAN – Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam – have conflicting claims in the South China Sea with Beijing.
China claims sovereignty over most of the area, including waters near the coasts of smaller countries.
The other members of ASEAN are Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, Myanmar and Thailand.
Concern has intensified in recent years as China began to build artificial islands on reefs in disputed waters. installations and landing strips.
Washington expressed concern over the construction of the island, claiming that it could affect the freedom of navigation in the sea, which shelters
At the meeting on Friday, Mattis reiterated Washington's concern "about the militarization of the South China Sea".
"No country can rewrite the international rules of the road, and we expect all countries – big and small – to respect these rules," he added.
The Pentagon chief met Thursday with his Chinese counterpart, General Wei Fenghe, on the sidelines of the meeting as they sought to normalize their military relations, which have deteriorated badly. trade and the tensions related to sanctions.
(This story was not changed by Business Standard staff and is generated automatically from a syndicated feed.)
[ad_2]
Source link
