US Secretary of Defense 21:16 on November 17 showing caution in the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea
The US Secretary of Defense, Esper, met with the defense ministers of each ASEAN-Southeast Asian Union, and the “Code of Conduct” aimed at formulating rules to prevent conflicts in the South China Sea between ASEAN and China Cautioned that it could justify an assertion of common interests.
The US Secretary of Defense, Esper, met with ASEAN 10 defense ministers on the afternoon of 17th in line with the ASena defense ministers meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.
In this, Secretary Esper pointed out that the activities of Chinese research vessels and escort vessels were confirmed in Vietnam's EEZ exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea. “The Chinese government is an organization called“ Marine militia ”. "We are strengthening mobilization," he strongly accused China of marine advancement.
On that basis, the “Code of Conduct” that ASEAN and China aim to formulate as a rule to prevent conflicts in the South China Sea, “As ASEAN countries, China justifies malicious acts and illegal acts, or escapes international law. "We must not allow the code of conduct to be abused." And expressed a strong alert that it could justify China's unilateral claim of interest in the South China Sea.
The United States believes that China is trying to eliminate America's involvement in the South China Sea by developing the “Code of Conduct” and that it will increase the frequency of “freedom of navigation” operations to navigate ships in the South China Sea. Strengthen the opposition posture.