US wants China to clarify its S China Sea intentions

SINGAPORE — China needs to be more “transparent” with its intentions in the South China Sea, said the Commander of the United States Navy Seventh Fleet Vice-Admiral Joseph P Aucoin, who expressed concerns over Beijing’s use of non-naval vessels to assert its claims in the disputed waters.

The US and Chinese navies have an agreed code to avoid flare-ups during unexpected encounters at sea, and Vice-Adm Aucoin said that both sides meet regularly and have “all types of senior level engagements”.

But the protocols do not extend to non-naval vessels, such as fishing and maritime surveillance boats that China is making greater use of to warn off other vessels in the disputed ­waters, where it has reclaimed more than 121ha and is building military facilities.

Vice-Adm Aucoin said a key concern of his is accidents with these non-military actors, “whether it’s coast guard or what we refer to as white shipping or cabbage ships” whose professionalism he cannot be sure of.   

“We would really like to see China to be more transparent on what their intentions are; I think that will relieve some of the angst we are seeing,” Vice-Adm Aucoin told reporters today (Feb 15). 

His comments came ahead of US President Barack Obama meeting with leaders from the Association of South-east Asian Nations in California, where China’s increasingly ­assertive moves in the South China Sea will be high on the agenda. Vietnam, ­Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan have rival claims over the waters. Recent developments, including China’s test flights over the area, have sparked concern for Washington and its allies that Beijing is trying to militarise the South China Sea, even though China denies hostile intent.

Vice-Adm Aucoin, who is in Singapore for the Singapore Air Show, said any flights by Chinese fighter jets from the area would be destabilising and may prompt a response from the US. 

“They do have (an) operational airfield but I don’t know when they will start flying fighter-type aircraft,” he said.

He stressed that Washington is committed to freedom of navigation and that its maritime fleet will continue to operate throughout the world to provide security under international laws.

“We are not being provocative, we are just exercising our rights and freedom according to international laws, and we will continue to do this. It will benefit all countries no matter their size and strength,” he said. 

Last month, US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur passed near an island in the Paracel Islands — another disputed island chain in the South China Sea — in one such patrol. The move was condemned by Beijing which said the US was acting dangerously and irresponsibly.

It was the second time in less than six months that a US Navy vessel has challenged China. A patrol by guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen in ­October also triggered an angry ­rebuke from China and prompted the presence of non-naval Chinese ships.

“During the Lassen one it was ­apparent that they were being controlled, that they weren’t operating independently, and that is something that is in our calculus now,” said Vice-Adm Aucoin in reference to the Chinese vessels.