China threatens ASEAN members against expanding cooperation with US

Beijing: – Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister, Luo Zhaohui, warned that the United States is purposely trying to create tension in the South China Sea region and the ASEAN countries should not support the activities of the United States. A few days ago, the Philippines appealed that the United States should provide military assistance to safeguard the rights of the Philippines. China, infuriated with the appeal made by the Philippines, seems to have threatened the ASEAN countries.

Last week, the Foreign Minister of Philippines expressed concerns over the increasing movements of the Chinese navy in the South China Sea and demanded that the United States should provide military assistance to the Philippines if China intruded into the Philippines marine region and attacked the Philippines. The United States had replied affirmatively to the Philippines’ demand. Before that, Vietnam had demanded US assistance against Chinese bullying. China expressed its anger in the ASEAN meeting held two days ago.

Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister, Luo Zhaohui warned that the United States is coming in the way of peace and stability in the South China Sea region and the countries from this region should not help the United States. A meeting between the United States and the ASEAN countries is scheduled to be held in the next few days. China is apparently threatening the ASEAN countries against the background of the meeting. China is claiming rights over the entire South China Sea region. It has dismissed all the claims made by the Southeast Asian countries for this purpose and has even disregarded the verdict given by the international court of justice in the Hague.

Meanwhile, China, who is threatening the ASEAN countries, has held three war exercises in the last few days. The Chinese war exercises occupying the South China Sea, Gulf of Taiwan and the Yellow Sea was a warning for Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia. Some of the military analysts claimed that these war exercises were a Chinese attempt to tighten its grip over the region and to challenge the United States. Following the increase in the tension in the South China Sea due to the Chinese war exercises, the United States had despatched U-2 surveillance aircraft to the region. China, upset with this, had threatened the United States of a military accident by testing medium-range and anti-aircraft carrier missiles.