In a rare admonishment of a close ally, the US on Wednesday urged the EU to speak out more forcefully to support Washington in its dispute with China over building and militarization of artificial outposts in the South China Sea.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Amy Searight said Washington welcomed EU calls for a peaceful resolution of territorial disputes in the South China Sea and respect for international law.
However, there was “somewhat of a difference of approach” when it came to Washington’s call for a freeze on activity by rival claimants — something China has rejected.
“It would be helpful if the EU would be a little more clear in terms of backing up these principles,” she told a discussion on US and EU policies toward East Asia at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies.
“A little bit more forward-leaning approach that would support, for example, the idea of a halt to further reclamation, further militarization, would be very useful,” she said.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia Michael Fuchs said there was a need to reduce the risks of conflict in the South China Sea, where China has overlapping claims with several states, including Taiwan.
“This is about ... speaking up when we see activity that is concerning,” he said.
EU Ambassador to the US David O’Sullivan said the EU and the US had similar objectives, but such statements were a judgment call.
“Completely joining up language is sometimes useful and sometimes counter-productive,” he said.
O’Sullivan said the EU was concerned about security in East Asia and was adding a security dimension to its work, but made clear there were limits to this.
“The last thing the region needs is more gunboats. I don’t think that’s going to be our contribution to the future security of the region,” he said.
Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Admiral Tomohisa Takei told another Washington think tank that Asian countries needed to improve their naval capabilities and increase coordination in response to the South China Sea tensions.
He said they should improve relations with Washington through “a solid alliance like the Japan-US alliance or friendly relations with the US.”
“I believe that Japan will make both personnel and material contribution toward capacity building,” he said.
Japan eased an arms export ban last year and has since agreed to bolster security ties with several countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia, that share its concerns about China.
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