In yet another claim against China’s expansionist policy, the commander of U.S. Forces in Japan on Friday said that China is using coronavirus as a cover to push territorial claims in the South China Sea through a surge in naval activity meant to intimidate other countries that claim the waters.
“There has been a surge of activity by China in the South China Sea with navy ships, coast guard vessels and a naval militia of fishing boats in harassing vessels in waters claimed by Beijing”, said Lieutenant General Kevin Schneider.
“Through the course of the COVID crisis we saw a surge of maritime activity,” he said.
He added that Beijing had also increased its activity in the East China Sea, where it has a territorial dispute with Japan.
Meanwhile, China says its maritime activities in the area are peaceful.
Japan hosts the biggest concentration of U.S. forces in Asia, including an aircraft carrier strike group, an amphibious expeditionary force and fighter squadrons. In addition to defending Japan, they are deployed to deter China from expanding its influence in the region, including in the South China Sea.
The latest U.S. criticism of China comes as relations have frayed amid accusations by Washington that Beijing failed to warn it quickly enough about the coronavirus.
Beijing has built military island bases on reefs in the energy-rich South China Sea, in or near waters claimed by other countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia. It imposed a unilateral fishing ban until August 16.
In yet another claim against China’s expansionist policy, the commander of U.S. Forces in Japan on Friday said that China is using coronavirus as a cover to push territorial claims in the South China Sea through a surge in naval activity meant to intimidate other countries that claim the waters.
“There has been a surge of activity by China in the South China Sea with navy ships, coast guard vessels and a naval militia of fishing boats in harassing vessels in waters claimed by Beijing”, said Lieutenant General Kevin Schneider.
“Through the course of the COVID crisis we saw a surge of maritime activity,” he said.
He added that Beijing had also increased its activity in the East China Sea, where it has a territorial dispute with Japan.
Meanwhile, China says its maritime activities in the area are peaceful.
Japan hosts the biggest concentration of U.S. forces in Asia, including an aircraft carrier strike group, an amphibious expeditionary force and fighter squadrons. In addition to defending Japan, they are deployed to deter China from expanding its influence in the region, including in the South China Sea.
The latest U.S. criticism of China comes as relations have frayed amid accusations by Washington that Beijing failed to warn it quickly enough about the coronavirus.
Beijing has built military island bases on reefs in the energy-rich South China Sea, in or near waters claimed by other countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia. It imposed a unilateral fishing ban until August 16.
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