Growing Concerns Over China’s Actions in South China Sea Impacting U.S. Allies and Partners

Recent reports indicate that despite Chinese Communist Party Chairman Xi Jinping’s 2016 assurances of maintaining peace in the South China Sea, China’s escalating military presence and aggressive actions in the region are raising concerns among U.S. allies and partners involved in the area’s vital economic activities (Photo: news.usni)

China’s Aggressive Moves Raise Alarms Among U.S. Allies and Partners

Fox News reported that in 2016, Chinese Communist Party Chairman Xi Jinping assured the international community that the South China Sea would remain free from military activities, emphasizing China’s commitment to regional peace. However, recent developments suggest a stark departure from these promises, as China escalates its military presence and engages in confrontational behavior towards U.S. allies and partners in the region.

The South China Sea holds immense economic importance, facilitating approximately $5.3 trillion in annual trade, including a significant volume involving the United States and its key trading allies and partners. This critical waterway is the subject of competing territorial claims involving countries like China, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Rep. Young Kim stated, As Chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Indo-Pacific Subcommittee, I led a bipartisan Congressional Delegation to visit countries in close proximity to the South China Sea, including Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. During this visit, we witnessed China’s persistent attempts to assert territorial claims that exceed its legitimate boundaries, often resorting to aggressive actions like using lasers to harm individuals and obstructing the resupply of ships. These actions are not only concerning for the affected nations but also for our regional allies and partners.

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Ensuring the Security and Stability of the South China Sea for Allies and Partners

China’s activities in the South China Sea extend to illegal land reclamation and the construction of military installations including runways for military aircraft in areas disputed by neighboring countries. Such actions pose a direct challenge to the territorial claims of allies and partners in the region and have the potential to disrupt regional stability.

To address these challenges and provide support to our allies and partners it is imperative that the United States strengthens its engagement in the South China Sea promotes maritime security fosters economic ties with Southeast Asian nations, and holds Chinese leaders accountable for their commitments. Congressional involvement is essential in addressing these unlawful behaviors and finding effective solutions to preserve peace and uphold international norms in this critical area.

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