China cannot threaten US over patrolling in South China Sea

Singapore: ‘China cannot stop patrolling by the United States and its allies in the South China Sea. The activities of the United States will continue in the South China Sea despite the Chinese threats and the United States will not retreat. At the same time, the United States will not tolerate the militarization of this region by China,’ was the stern warning issued by the US Secretary of State, James Mattis. Mattis appealed to Japan and South Korea to assist the United States to stop the militarization of the region by China.

Since the last few days, Secretary of State Mattis is on his visit to the Asian countries. Following his visits to Vietnam and China, he targeted China over the South China Sea issue in the ASEAN conference in Singapore. At the same time, he said that it is necessary that the countries in the South China Sea region unite to counter the Chinese arrogance in the region.

‘If all the ASEAN allies and their partners unite for the security of the air and marine borders of the region, then no country in the world can dare to violate the international rules. Even the largest of the countries will have to follow the rules,’ Mattis targeted China with this statement. At the same time, Mattis emphasised that the patrolling in the South China Sea region will not be discontinued.

‘The United States and allies will continue to conduct air and marine patrolling in the South China Sea region. The United States will not pay heed to any threats while doing this and the US allies also should not retreat because of the threats. The Chinese militarization and pressurisation in the South China Sea will not be tolerated,’ sternly warned Secretary of State, Mattis to China.

At this time, the US Secretary of State also met the Defence Ministers of Japan and South Korea. Mattis appealed to Japan and South Korea to assist the United States for the security of the South China Sea and to stop the Chinese expansion plans in the region. At the same time, the Japanese Defence Minister, Takeshi Iwaya met the Chinese Defence Minister, Wei Feng and expressed displeasure over the Chinese movements in the South China Sea. The Japanese Defence Minister said that unilateral Chinese activities in this marine region will not be acceptable to the United States and its allies.

Since the last few days, the United States has been issuing aggressive statements against China on the South China Sea issue. Only last week, US Vice-President Mike Pence held China responsible for the tension in the South China Sea region. The US Vice-President also criticised the militarization of the marine region.

Meanwhile, only two days ago, two US bombers patrolled the airspace over the South China Sea region without paying any heed to the Chinese threats.