During an interview at the ASEAN annual summit in Vientiane, Laos, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed concerns about China’s actions in the South China Sea and East China Sea. Representing President Biden, Blinken highlighted America’s worries over China’s “increasingly dangerous and unlawful activities” in these disputed waters. He reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to upholding freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.
Blinken conveyed a message to ASEAN leaders that fostering a shared vision with the region entails confronting common challenges, including certain behaviors exhibited by China. “The U.S. remains deeply concerned about China’s increasingly perilous and illegal actions in the South and East China Seas,” he stated. “These actions have resulted in injuries to personnel and damage to vessels from ASEAN nations, violating commitments to peaceful dispute resolution.” He reiterated the U.S. commitment to support freedom of navigation and overflight in the Indo-Pacific.
While the U.S. does not assert sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, it has deployed warships and aircraft in the region to challenge China’s territorial assertions. The Chinese government, on the other hand, has criticized the U.S. as an external player seeking to incite tension in this vital area.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning countered Blinken’s remarks, claiming that U.S. and other external military deployments and activities have heightened tensions, presenting the greatest threat to peace and stability in the South China Sea.
Recent incidents between China and the Philippines, an ASEAN member, have raised concerns about the potential for broader conflict. During the summit, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remarked that the Philippines has been “continuously harassed and intimidated by China’s actions.”
The United States has repeatedly warned that the mutual defense provisions of the U.S.-Philippines treaty apply in the South China Sea. This means that if Philippine military personnel, vessels, or aircraft come under armed attack, the U.S. is obligated to defend them.
Importantly, China is currently ASEAN’s largest trading partner and the third-largest source of investment. ASEAN has navigated its maritime disputes with China cautiously, avoiding actions that would disrupt trade relations while focusing on expanding their free trade area, which serves a combined market of nearly 2 billion people.
In addition, Blinken also emphasized the U.S. commitment to maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait during his remarks.
