The Pentagon on Thursday denounced the holding of Chinese military exercises around a disputed archipelago in the South China Sea, saying that they "will further destabilize" the situation in the region.
"The Defense Ministry is concerned about China's decision to conduct military exercises around the Paracel archipelago in the South China Sea from July 1 to 5," the Pentagon said in a statement.
Rivalries between China, Taiwan and Vietnam
These activities "will further destabilize the situation" in this area claimed by China but also by Vietnam and Taiwan, added the ministry.
>> READ ALSO - Covid-19: Trump "more and more angry" against China
"These exercises also violate the commitments made by China in the Declaration on the conduct of the parties in the South China Sea of 2002," said Washington.
This text signed by the Asean countries (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) provided that all parties "would avoid activities which might complicate or aggravate disputes and threaten peace and security ", notes the American army.
A series of land claims
It is just "the latest in a long line of China's actions to assert illegal maritime claims and disadvantage its Asian neighbors in the South China Sea," the statement said.
In contrast, Washington says it wants only a "free and open Indo-Pacific region, where all countries, big and small, are safe and sovereign, free from coercion and can develop their economy in accordance with international rules and standards. ".
The Pentagon, which calls on "all parties to exercise restraint", warned that it "will continue to monitor" Chinese military activities in the region.