No anti-China bloc in the making: US

The US has said there is no anti-China grouping in the works as its recent military manoeuvres in South China Sea against Chinese maritime territorial claims has gained support from several countries in the region.

“No”, state department press secretary John Kirby said when asked if there is an anti-China block forming in view of the recent developments in South China Sea given the fact that several countries are supporting its move.

“As I’ve said repeatedly here, that freedom of the seas is a fundamental principle which must be protected, and that is one of the reasons why the US Navy exists. They are operations in international waters and they are not meant to be nor should they be perceived to be by anybody as provocative,” he said.

“The Asia Pacific rebalance that the US continue to pursue and the security aspects that it continues to observe in the Asia Pacific region are not aimed against or for any one nation. It is about preserving our own national security interests in that part of the world, the national security interests of our allies and partners,” he said.

Five out of seven of US’s treaty alliances are in the Pacific region.

“So we have serious commitments there, and the are not aimed at China. They are aimed at trying to decrease tensions and preserve stability, because that region is so vital to the rest of the world — economically alone, but on other levels as well,” Kirby said.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed concern on Thursday about a territorial dispute between the Chinese and US Navies in the South China Sea, and suggested China go to international courts to resolve the row.

On a two-day visit to China, Ms Merkel said it was essential that sea trade routes remain open despite the dispute, which flared up after a US warship challenged China’s territorial assertions in the disputed waters this week.

“The territorial dispute in the South China Sea is a serious conflict. I am always a bit surprised why in this case multinational courts should not be an option for a solution,” Ms Merkel said in speech in Beijing. “Nevertheless, we wish that the sea trade routes stay free and safe, because they are important for all.”

Beijing rebuked Washington for sending a guided-missile destroyer within 12 nautical miles of one of China’s man-made islands in the Spratly archipelago on Tuesday, saying it had tracked and warned the USS Lassen and called in the US ambassador to protest.

Amid the tension, the chief of US naval operations met with his Chinese counterpart via a video call on Thursday.

The call between Admiral John Richardson and Admiral Wu Shengli, who commands the Chinese Navy, lasted about an hour, Navy spokesman Lt. Tim Hawkins said.

“It was professional and productive,” he said, but refused to provide details on the talks.

Meanwhile, Australia said on Thursday that it would continue scheduled live-fire naval exercises with China, even after close ally the United States sent a warship into disputed South China Sea waters this week.

Australia’s defence minister Marise Payne said after the incident that she supported the Americans’ right to freedom of navigation under international law, but added that Canberra was not involved in the US action.

A spokesman for Ms Payne on Thursday said that contrary to reports, two Royal Australian Navy ships would still take part in exercises with their Chinese counterparts off the southeastern Chinese coast near the disputed Spratly Islands.

“HMAS ships Stuart and Arunta will visit Zhanji-ang, in Guangdong provin-ce, China, soon during their North Asia deployment,” the spokesman said.