HANOI (Reuters) – U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink said on Saturday that the situation in the South China Sea was deeply concerning and said China’s recent actions in the disputed waterway ” Seriously undermined stability.”
Krittenbrink made the comments during a visit to Hanoi amid rising tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, where Vietnam is also a claimant.
“We believe that China’s actions against the Philippines around Second Thomas Shoal, especially the recent actions, are irresponsible, aggressive and dangerous,” Kritenbrink said at a briefing in Hanoi to some media. , Seriously destabilizing.
“We will continue to stand with our Philippine allies,” Krittenbrink said, adding that Washington has made clear to Beijing publicly and privately that its mutual defense treaty obligations with the Philippines are “ironclad.”
Philippine officials said on Friday they would not consider invoking a mutual defense treaty with the United States after accusing China of vigorously interfering with supply missions in the disputed South China Sea earlier this month.
China’s Foreign Ministry disputed the Philippines’ claims, with a spokesman saying on Thursday that the necessary measures taken were legal, professional and beyond reproach.
“We believe that every country in the region, including China, needs to respect international law and needs to behave responsibly in the maritime domain,” Krittenbrink said.
China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, a thoroughfare for more than $3 trillion in annual shipping trade, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague said China’s claims had no legal basis, but Beijing rejected the decision.
Kritenbrink arrived in Hanoi on Friday after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Vietnam was heavily criticized by Washington.
Asked for his views on Vietnam’s foreign policy and its reception of Putin, Krittenbrink said: “Only Vietnam can decide how best to safeguard its sovereignty and advance its interests.”
Last September, during President Joe Biden’s visit to Hanoi, Vietnam and the United States officially upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, the highest diplomatic level in Vietnam.
Kritenbrink said the upgrade was “historic and significant” and said he wanted to maintain momentum to ensure all agreements reached are implemented.
“We continue to believe that the U.S.-Vietnam partnership has never been stronger,” he said.
