Posted on 09/02/2020 1:25:38 PM PDT by ransomnote
The Department of Defense is concerned about the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) recent decision to conduct military exercises, including the firing of ballistic missiles, around the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on August 23-29.
Conducting military exercises over disputed territory in the South China Sea is counterproductive to easing tensions and maintaining stability. The PRCs actions, including missile tests, further destabilize the situation in the South China Sea. Such exercises also violate PRC commitments under the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to avoid activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, and call into question its motivations with ongoing negotiations for a Code of Conduct between China and ASEAN.
This military exercise is the latest in a long string of PRC actions to assert unlawful maritime claims and disadvantage its Southeast Asian neighbors in the South China Sea. The PRCs actions stand in contrast to its pledge to not militarize the South China Sea and are in contrast to the United States' vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, in which all nations, large and small, are secure in their sovereignty, free from coercion, and able to pursue economic growth consistent with accepted international rules and norms.
The Department of Defense alerted the PRC in July that we would continue to monitor the situation with the expectation that the PRC will reduce its militarization and coercion of its neighbors in the South China Sea. The PRC chose to escalate its exercise activities by firing ballistic missiles. We urge all parties to exercise restraint and not undertake military activities that could threaten freedom of navigation and aggravate disputes in the South China Sea.
Recently the Chinese have greatly pissed off the USA, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam and India, at least. Either this is part of some extremely brilliant end game or a sign of the latest Chicomm dictator going mad.
They have the same madness as the last great Fascist world power.
And just as impossible to deal with.
Let’s face it - w/o China, the insane Norks wouldn’t be able to exist - definitely a mental problem running China too..
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.