US demands immediate halt to South China Sea reclamations
The United States on Saturday called for an "immediate and lasting halt"
to reclamation works in disputed waters in the South China Sea, saying
China's behavior in the area was "out of step" with international norms.
"First, we want a peaceful resolution of all disputes. To that end, there should be an immediate and lasting halt to land reclamation by all claimants," US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told a high-level security conference in Singapore.
"We also oppose any further familiarization of disputed features," he said, stressing that US forces would continue entering what he called "international waters" in the South China Sea.
Carter added that "with its actions in the South China Sea, China is out of step with both the international rules and norms."
He acknowledged that other claimants have developed outposts of differing scope and degree, including Vietnam with 48 outposts, the Philippines with eight, Malaysia with five and Taiwan with one.
"Yet, one country has gone much farther and much faster than any other.
"And that's China. China has reclaimed over 2,000 acres, more than all other claimants combined and more than in the entire history of the region. And China did so in only the last 18 months," Carter said.
"It is unclear how much farther China will go. That is why this stretch of water has become the source of tension in the region and front-page news around the world." —Agence France-Presse
"First, we want a peaceful resolution of all disputes. To that end, there should be an immediate and lasting halt to land reclamation by all claimants," US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told a high-level security conference in Singapore.
"We also oppose any further familiarization of disputed features," he said, stressing that US forces would continue entering what he called "international waters" in the South China Sea.
Carter added that "with its actions in the South China Sea, China is out of step with both the international rules and norms."
He acknowledged that other claimants have developed outposts of differing scope and degree, including Vietnam with 48 outposts, the Philippines with eight, Malaysia with five and Taiwan with one.
"Yet, one country has gone much farther and much faster than any other.
"And that's China. China has reclaimed over 2,000 acres, more than all other claimants combined and more than in the entire history of the region. And China did so in only the last 18 months," Carter said.
"It is unclear how much farther China will go. That is why this stretch of water has become the source of tension in the region and front-page news around the world." —Agence France-Presse
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US demands immediate halt to South China Sea reclamations
The United States on Saturday called for an "immediate and lasting halt"
to reclamation works in disputed waters in the South China Sea, saying
China's behavior in the area was "out of step" with international norms.
"First, we want a peaceful resolution of all disputes. To that end, there should be an immediate and lasting halt to land reclamation by all claimants," US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told a high-level security conference in Singapore.
"We also oppose any further familiarization of disputed features," he said, stressing that US forces would continue entering what he called "international waters" in the South China Sea.
Carter added that "with its actions in the South China Sea, China is out of step with both the international rules and norms."
He acknowledged that other claimants have developed outposts of differing scope and degree, including Vietnam with 48 outposts, the Philippines with eight, Malaysia with five and Taiwan with one.
"Yet, one country has gone much farther and much faster than any other.
"And that's China. China has reclaimed over 2,000 acres, more than all other claimants combined and more than in the entire history of the region. And China did so in only the last 18 months," Carter said.
"It is unclear how much farther China will go. That is why this stretch of water has become the source of tension in the region and front-page news around the world." —Agence France-Presse
"First, we want a peaceful resolution of all disputes. To that end, there should be an immediate and lasting halt to land reclamation by all claimants," US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told a high-level security conference in Singapore.
"We also oppose any further familiarization of disputed features," he said, stressing that US forces would continue entering what he called "international waters" in the South China Sea.
Carter added that "with its actions in the South China Sea, China is out of step with both the international rules and norms."
He acknowledged that other claimants have developed outposts of differing scope and degree, including Vietnam with 48 outposts, the Philippines with eight, Malaysia with five and Taiwan with one.
"Yet, one country has gone much farther and much faster than any other.
"And that's China. China has reclaimed over 2,000 acres, more than all other claimants combined and more than in the entire history of the region. And China did so in only the last 18 months," Carter said.
"It is unclear how much farther China will go. That is why this stretch of water has become the source of tension in the region and front-page news around the world." —Agence France-Presse
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