دنی راسل، دیپلمات ارشد آمریکا در امور شرق آسیا می گوید ادعاهای ارضی چین در بخش وسیعی از دریای جنوب چین با قوانین بین المللی سازگار نیست و چین باید روشن و یا تعدیل شود.
دنی راسل این اظهارات را روز چهارشنبه در یک جلسه توضیحات به قانونگذاران در کنگره گفت.
چین مدعی است که تقریبا تمام ۳ میلیون و پانصد هزار کیلومتر مربع دریای جنوب چین بر اساس آنچه حقوق تاریخی خود در چارچوب «خط نه نقطه ای» می خواند متعلق به این کشور است.
ویتنام، فیلیپین، تایوان، مالزی و برونئی نیز بخش هایی از این دریا را متعلق به خود می دانند.
دنی راسل همچنین گفت نگرانی رو به افزایشی وجود دارد که چین کوشش می کند به رغم اعتراضات همسایگانش، به تدریج کنترل بر دریا را اعلام کند.
"This includes continued restrictions on access to the Scarborough reef, pressure on the longstanding Philippine presence at the Second Thomas Shoal and the recent updating of fishing regulations covering disputed areas in the South China Sea. Our view is that these actions have raised tensions in the region and have exacerbated concerns about China's long term strategic objectives," said Russel.
Russel also raised fresh U.S. concerns over China's activities in the East China Sea, where Beijing recently set up an Air Defense Identification Zone in an area also claimed by Japan.
He called the move a "step in the wrong direction," and warned China against setting up a so-called ADIZs elsewhere.
"We neither recognize nor accept China's declared ADIZ. The United States has no intention of changing how we conduct our operations in the region. And we've made clear to China that it shouldn't attempt to implement that ADIZ and should refrain from taking similar actions elsewhere in the region," said Russel.
Russel said he was also concerned about the "serious downturn" in relations between Japan and China. He said neither Beijing, Tokyo, nor the global economy could afford an unintended clash between the two countries.
He also said he supports Japan's call for diplomacy and crisis management procedures to help avoid a conflict.
The U.S. has said it does not take a position on any of the individual maritime disputes, but is only interested in helping find peaceful resolutions and ensuring freedom of navigation and commerce.
China has also said it is seeking a peaceful resolution, but has rejected attempts to solve the disputes in multilateral forums, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It instead prefers to deal individually with each nation, giving it a strategic advantage.
Beijing is also skeptical of the Obama administration's so-called military and economic "rebalancing" toward the Asia-Pacific, viewing the policy as an attempt to contain its rise.
دنی راسل این اظهارات را روز چهارشنبه در یک جلسه توضیحات به قانونگذاران در کنگره گفت.
چین مدعی است که تقریبا تمام ۳ میلیون و پانصد هزار کیلومتر مربع دریای جنوب چین بر اساس آنچه حقوق تاریخی خود در چارچوب «خط نه نقطه ای» می خواند متعلق به این کشور است.
ویتنام، فیلیپین، تایوان، مالزی و برونئی نیز بخش هایی از این دریا را متعلق به خود می دانند.
دنی راسل همچنین گفت نگرانی رو به افزایشی وجود دارد که چین کوشش می کند به رغم اعتراضات همسایگانش، به تدریج کنترل بر دریا را اعلام کند.
"This includes continued restrictions on access to the Scarborough reef, pressure on the longstanding Philippine presence at the Second Thomas Shoal and the recent updating of fishing regulations covering disputed areas in the South China Sea. Our view is that these actions have raised tensions in the region and have exacerbated concerns about China's long term strategic objectives," said Russel.
Russel also raised fresh U.S. concerns over China's activities in the East China Sea, where Beijing recently set up an Air Defense Identification Zone in an area also claimed by Japan.
He called the move a "step in the wrong direction," and warned China against setting up a so-called ADIZs elsewhere.
"We neither recognize nor accept China's declared ADIZ. The United States has no intention of changing how we conduct our operations in the region. And we've made clear to China that it shouldn't attempt to implement that ADIZ and should refrain from taking similar actions elsewhere in the region," said Russel.
Russel said he was also concerned about the "serious downturn" in relations between Japan and China. He said neither Beijing, Tokyo, nor the global economy could afford an unintended clash between the two countries.
He also said he supports Japan's call for diplomacy and crisis management procedures to help avoid a conflict.
The U.S. has said it does not take a position on any of the individual maritime disputes, but is only interested in helping find peaceful resolutions and ensuring freedom of navigation and commerce.
China has also said it is seeking a peaceful resolution, but has rejected attempts to solve the disputes in multilateral forums, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It instead prefers to deal individually with each nation, giving it a strategic advantage.
Beijing is also skeptical of the Obama administration's so-called military and economic "rebalancing" toward the Asia-Pacific, viewing the policy as an attempt to contain its rise.