US rejects China’s claims to resources across most of East Sea
US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo affirmed on July 13 that the People’s Republic of China (PRC)’s claims to offshore resources across most of the South China Sea (called the East Sea in Vietnam) are completely unlawful, as is its campaign of bullying to control them.
US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo (Source: AFP/VNA)
Washington DC (VNA) – US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo affirmedon July 13 that the People’s Republic of China (PRC)’s claims to offshoreresources across most of the South China Sea (called the East Sea in Vietnam)are completely unlawful, as is its campaign of bullying to control them.
“As such, the United States rejects any PRCmaritime claim in the waters surrounding Vanguard Bank (off Vietnam), LuconiaShoals (off Malaysia), waters in Brunei’s EEZ, and Natuna Besar (offIndonesia),” Pompeo said in a press statement about the US position on maritimeclaims in the South China Sea.
He stressed that any action conducted byChina to harass other states’ fishing or hydrocarbon development in thesewaters – or to carry out such activities unilaterally – is unlawful./.
China’s military drills on Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago have violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over the archipelago and run counter to the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry Le Thi Thu Hang has said.
The US Department of Defence on July 2 voiced its concern about China’s decision to conduct military exercises around the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago in the East Sea on July 1-5.
Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has raised alarm over China's holding of military exercises in the East Sea, saying the move could create tension in the region and impact Beijing’s relationship with its neighbours.
The US Department of Defence on July 2 voiced its concern about China’s decision to conduct military exercises around the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago in the East Sea on July 1-5.
The Philippines on July 12 renewed its call for compliance with the ruling issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) four years ago which rejected China’s claims in the East Sea.
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US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo (Source: AFP/VNA) 
