China warned against using force in China Sea disputes

President Barack Obama “warned” China on Thursday against using force or intimidation in its tense maritime disputes with its neighbors and urged a peaceful resolution.(I hope that report is correct, but I have a hard time thinking of President Obama “warning” anyone about anything.)

Obama, meeting Chinese officials who were in Washington for wide-ranging talks, "urged China to manage its maritime disputes with its neighbors peacefully, without the use of intimidation or coercion," a White House statement said.

Tensions have steadily risen between China and Japan, which accuses its growing neighbor of sending an increasing number of ships to exert its claim over unpopulated islands managed by Tokyo in the East China Sea.

The Philippines and Vietnam have also charged that China has used assertive means to exert claims in the conflict-riven South China Sea, although tensions have abated slightly with Hanoi in recent weeks.

China "expressed the hope that the United States will support the efforts of the parties concerned to properly handle and resolve the relevant disputes through dialogue”.

The United States since 2010 has repeatedly been outspoken over the South China Sea, saying that it has a national interest in ensuring freedom of navigation but does not take sides on individual claims.

With an eye on the tensions, the United States has boosted military cooperation with Japan and the Philippines -- which are both treaty-bound allies -- as well as with former war adversary Vietnam.

By-the-way, the rising tensions over China’s claims to sovereignty over th entire South and East China Sea was the inspiration for my novel "Operation: Avenging Dragon" (I know, a shameless plug, but It’s my blog after all).

 

Live Long and Prosper….