Breaking News

Up to 200,000 people estimated to travel to Vermont for total solar eclipse How fast will April’s total solar eclipse travel? The UN Security Council demands a ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan Mexico in the emerging world order Pennsylvania State Guard Organizes Lithuanian Foreign Minister US Abstention from UN Security Council Resolution on Gaza – US State Department USA beats Mexico 2-0 thanks to goals from Adams and Reyna to win 3rd consecutive CONCACAF Nations League Mexico x United States | Highlights Meaning | The Case for American Intervention in Haiti Julian Assange to hear results of key US extradition ruling

TOKYO — An American diplomat in Tokyo on Tuesday criticized China’s “increasingly hostile maritime actions” as a threat to waterway security in the resource-rich Indo-Pacific as the United States seeks to strengthen security cooperation with allies Japan and the Philippines.

US Deputy Head of Mission Raymond Greene said the disregard for international law and Beijing’s heavy-handed crackdown are aimed at strengthening its control over the region. “In particular, the increasingly hostile maritime actions by the People’s Republic of China threaten the security of our waterways,” he said at a press conference ahead of a meeting of officials from the three countries.

“No nation should be able to dominate the waters of the Indo-Pacific through coercion and outright intimidation,” he said. “Might doesn’t make right, and we are not afraid to denounce Beijing’s provocative actions.”

He said China’s actions have included militarizing the East and South China Seas, harassing foreign fishing and other vessels, and depleting marine resources and the environment.

China, second only to the United States in military spending, is rapidly modernizing its armed forces. It says its military is there only to defend and protect its sovereign rights.

Japan views China as a regional security threat and is concerned about rising tensions over Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory. Tokyo is also concerned about increasing China-Russia cooperation and their joint military activities in Japan, including joint gunnery practice off northern Japan over the weekend.

Japanese Deputy Defense Minister Kimi Onoda also said at the press conference that as sea nations, Japan and the Philippines share common security challenges, including attempts by other nations to single-handedly change the status quo in the South and East China Seas.

Philippine Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Robespierre L. Bolivar said promoting cooperation between the three countries is important to help protect the Philippines’ maritime interests.

About 20 maritime security officials and experts from the three countries will discuss maritime security cooperation at the two-day meeting.

AP writer Mari Yamaguchi contributed to this report.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *