Mattis warns against Chinese ‘intimidation’ at key summit
COMMENTS COME AMID INCREASED TENSION BETWEEN TWO NATIONS IN SOUTH CHINA SEA
The United States is willing to work with China on a “resultsoriented” relationship, but Beijing’s actions in the South China Sea were coercive and the Pentagon would “compete vigorously” if needed, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said yesterday.
The comments by Mattis, speaking at the annual ShangriLa Dialogue in Singapore, come at a time of increased tension between the two nations in the South China Sea and highlight how President Donald Trump’s administration is looking to balance China’s cooperation on North Korea while dealing with its activities in the disputed sea.
“China’s policy in the South China Sea stands in stark contrast to the openness that our strategy promotes, it calls into question China’s broader goals,” said Mattis, who said he would be travelling to Beijing this month.
“The US will continue to pursue a constructive, resultsoriented relationship with China, cooperation whenever possible will be the name of the game and competing vigorously where we must ... of course we recognise any sustainable Indo-Pacific order has a role for China,” he said.
Missiles deployed
Last month, China’s air force landed bombers on disputed islands and reefs in the South China Sea as part of a training exercise, triggering concern from Vietnam and the Philippines.
Satellite photographs taken on May 12 showed China appeared to have deployed truckmounted surface-to-air missiles or anti-ship cruise missiles at Woody Island in the disputed sea.
“Despite China’s claims to the contrary, the placement of these weapon systems is tied directly to military use for the purposes of intimidation and coercion,” Mattis said.
Two US Navy warships sailed near South China Sea islands claimed by China.
While the operation had been planned months in advance, and similar operations have become routine, it came at a particularly sensitive time and just days after the Pentagon withdrew an invitation to China for a major US-hosted naval drill.
China’s state-run Global Times newspaper said in an editorial tension in the South China Sea was “due to the US continuing to increase its military presence in the region, forcing China to naturally upgrade its defensive weapons on the islands.
“This in turn gives the US more excuses to exert military pressure, causing regional tensions to spiral,” it said.
Mattis acknowledged that China’s militarisation of islands was a reality but warned of further consequences.
“I believe there are much larger consequences in the future when nations lose the rapport of their neighbours ... eventually these [actions] do not pay off,” Mattis said.
Taiwan
He also reiterated that the Pentagon was committed to working with Taiwan to provide articles and services needed for its self-defence, comments that are likely to anger China. China’s hostility towards self-ruled Taiwan has grown since Tsai Ing-wen from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party won presidential elections on the island in 2016.
China claims Taiwan as its own and it is one of its most sensitive issues.
Trump said on Friday an unprecedented nuclear arms summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that the United States pulled out of will now go ahead as scheduled on June 12 in Singapore, adding another twist to a high-stakes diplomatic dance.