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Defense Secretary Urges Restraint in South China Sea Disputes Defense Secretary Urges Restraint in South China Sea Disputes
(35 minutes later)
TOKYO — Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter warned China and its neighbors on Wednesday against the militarization of territorial disputes over the South and East China Seas.TOKYO — Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter warned China and its neighbors on Wednesday against the militarization of territorial disputes over the South and East China Seas.
Mr. Carter spoke as new evidence has emerged that the Chinese are aggressively building artificial islands in some disputed areas with dredged sand and concrete to fortify their claims.Mr. Carter spoke as new evidence has emerged that the Chinese are aggressively building artificial islands in some disputed areas with dredged sand and concrete to fortify their claims.
The rival maritime claims by China and other countries in the region, including the American allies Japan and the Philippines, have become a major point of tension between China and the United States.The rival maritime claims by China and other countries in the region, including the American allies Japan and the Philippines, have become a major point of tension between China and the United States.
Last week, Adm. Harry Harris, the commander of the United States Pacific fleet, accused China of undertaking an enormous artificial land creation operation in the Spratly Islands — a part of the South China Sea where the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also assert sovereignty.Last week, Adm. Harry Harris, the commander of the United States Pacific fleet, accused China of undertaking an enormous artificial land creation operation in the Spratly Islands — a part of the South China Sea where the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also assert sovereignty.
“China is creating a great wall of sand with dredges and bulldozers,” Admiral Harris said in a speech in Australia.“China is creating a great wall of sand with dredges and bulldozers,” Admiral Harris said in a speech in Australia.
China and Japan have a separate territorial dispute over islands that Japan calls the Senkaku and China calls the Diaoyutai.China and Japan have a separate territorial dispute over islands that Japan calls the Senkaku and China calls the Diaoyutai.
Speaking in Tokyo on Wednesday, alongside Japan’s defense minister, Gen Nakatani, during his first visit to the Asia-Pacific region as defense secretary, Mr. Carter said, “We take a strong stance against the militarization of these disputes.”Speaking in Tokyo on Wednesday, alongside Japan’s defense minister, Gen Nakatani, during his first visit to the Asia-Pacific region as defense secretary, Mr. Carter said, “We take a strong stance against the militarization of these disputes.”
He also defended the looming joint military exercises by the United States and the Philippines, calling them a reflection of shared interests in the region.He also defended the looming joint military exercises by the United States and the Philippines, calling them a reflection of shared interests in the region.
Mr. Carter expressed his concern over Chinese land reclamation in an interview published on Wednesday in the Yomiuri Shimbun, one of Japan’s leading newspapers. Mr. Carter said such activities “seriously increase tensions and reduce prospects for diplomatic solutions.”Mr. Carter expressed his concern over Chinese land reclamation in an interview published on Wednesday in the Yomiuri Shimbun, one of Japan’s leading newspapers. Mr. Carter said such activities “seriously increase tensions and reduce prospects for diplomatic solutions.”
He urged Beijing to “limit its activities and exercise restraint to improve regional trust.”He urged Beijing to “limit its activities and exercise restraint to improve regional trust.”
Satellite imagery taken over the past year has illustrated Chinese progress in creating territory in the Spatlys, a hodgepodge of islands and submerged coral reefs. Satellite imagery taken over the past year has illustrated Chinese progress in creating territory in the Spratlys, a hodgepodge of islands and submerged coral reefs.
Images released this week by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative of the Center for Strategic and International Studies show dredging activities at Mischief Reef, called Meiji Reef by the Chinese — part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea — as recently as March 16. The Chinese reclamation efforts at the site, occupied in 1995, are believed to have begun in late 2014, and recent images show significant progress.Images released this week by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative of the Center for Strategic and International Studies show dredging activities at Mischief Reef, called Meiji Reef by the Chinese — part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea — as recently as March 16. The Chinese reclamation efforts at the site, occupied in 1995, are believed to have begun in late 2014, and recent images show significant progress.
Last year, IHS Jane’s showed a reclamation project by the Chinese government on a tiny reef 500 miles from the mainland that would enable China to land military aircraft there, expanding its reach into the South China Sea.Last year, IHS Jane’s showed a reclamation project by the Chinese government on a tiny reef 500 miles from the mainland that would enable China to land military aircraft there, expanding its reach into the South China Sea.
The satellite imagery showed construction of a new island about 9,850 feet long and 985 feet wide at Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratlys. The new island would be capable of supporting a runway and apron, the security group said.The satellite imagery showed construction of a new island about 9,850 feet long and 985 feet wide at Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratlys. The new island would be capable of supporting a runway and apron, the security group said.
China has made no secret of its territorial designs on the Spratlys, creating at least three new islands that could serve as bases for Chinese surveillance and as resupply stations for navy vessels, according to Jane’s. The Chinese have said they consider most of the South China Sea to be rightfully theirs.China has made no secret of its territorial designs on the Spratlys, creating at least three new islands that could serve as bases for Chinese surveillance and as resupply stations for navy vessels, according to Jane’s. The Chinese have said they consider most of the South China Sea to be rightfully theirs.
Last year tensions between China and Vietnam increased after China towed a $1 billion deepwater oil drilling rig to an area 150 miles off Vietnam’s coast. The tensions have abated in recent months, and on Wednesday both countries pledged to look for a peaceful resolution, the official Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.Last year tensions between China and Vietnam increased after China towed a $1 billion deepwater oil drilling rig to an area 150 miles off Vietnam’s coast. The tensions have abated in recent months, and on Wednesday both countries pledged to look for a peaceful resolution, the official Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.