Report to US Congress flags China as threat
A TOP United States military official has raised concerns over China’s ongoing militarization in the South China Sea, saying China may challenge US presence in the region once it deploys its forces in its bases in the disputed waters.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Malacañang maintained it will not file a protest against the People’s Republic of China over its alleged destruction of coral reefs on Scarborough Shoal, also locally named Bajo de Masinloc, saying this will only “reverse” the Philippines’ “diplomatic gains.”
‘DEPLOYED FORCES’
In a report to the US Congress by the Congressional Research Service made public on Tuesday, US Navy Admiral Philip S. Davidson was also quoted as saying that Chinese forces may “easily overwhelm the military forces of any South China Sea-claimants.”
“Today, these forward operating bases ( in South China Sea) appear complete. The only thing lacking are the deployed forces. Once occupied, China will be able to extend its influence thousands of miles to the south and project power deep into Oceania,” he said at a hearing by the US Senate Armed Services Committee last April.
He added: “The PLA (People’s Liberation Army) will be able to use these bases to challenge U.S. presence in the region, and any forces of any other South China Sea- claimants. In short, China is now capable of controlling the South China Sea in all scenarios short of war with the United States....”
Mr. Davidson was recently installed commander of the US Indo- Pacific Command which oversees US military operations in Asia.
The report is titled “Maritime Territorial and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Disputes Involving China: Issues for Congress,” which was dated May 24 and made public on Tuesday, June 12.
The report also acknowledged that “Chinese domination” in the South China Sea may affect “US strategic, political, and economic interests in the Asia- Pacific region.”
Aside from the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, the report also raised China’s dispute with the United States over whether the former has a right under international law to regulate activities of foreign military forces operating within China’s exclusive economic zone.
“The dispute appears to be at the heart of incidents between Chinese and U. S. ships and aircraft in international waters and airspace in 2001, 2002, 2009, 2013, and 2014,” it stated.