The South China Sea is “growing tense” following China’s deployment of surface-to-air missiles (SAM) on Woody Island (Yongxing Island, 永興島) in the Paracels (Xisha Islands, 西沙群島), US Department of State spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday in Washington.
China had promised last year not to militarize the region, Kirby said, adding that the US would continue to protect its national interests by flying, sailing and operating where allowed by international law.
Referring to China’s deployment of HQ-9 missiles on the island, Kirby said: “Some people say it’s self-defense — self-defense against who? What’s the purpose of it?”
Photo: AP
“It’s clearly the militarization of a piece of beach that prior to this didn’t have military weapons systems on it,” he said.
Answering questions about the missiles — identified from satellite imagery — Kirby said the Chinese decision to install them had to be considered “in place and time.”
“There’s enough tension right now in the South China Sea,” he said.
There are multiple sovereignty disputes — including some from Taiwan — over islands, atolls, rocks and reefs in the South China Sea.
“We have an obligation to exercise freedom of navigation in accordance with international law,” Kirby said.
“We have serious treaty obligations and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region. This situation is growing tense,” he said.
Kirby said the US wanted to see and welcome “the peaceful, prosperous rise of China.”
“They are a regional leader and a global leader in a rapidly growing economy — and they can exert positive leadership and influence,” he said.
The revelation earlier this week that the missiles had been placed on Woody Island continues to stir strong reactions in Washington.
Heritage Foundation China expert Dean Cheng (成斌) said the missile deployment made it clear that China was prepared to use military force to support its expansive claims throughout the South China Sea.
He said that an earlier deployment of advanced fighter jets to Woody Island was apparently not permanent, but that the missiles appeared to be for the longer term.
American Enterprise Institute (AEI) policy analyst Michael Auslin said the missile placement was another step in a “long campaign” to ensure China developed an unparalleled military position.
“What Beijing wants to do is slowly normalize the idea of its having advanced defenses on all of its possessions,” he said.
Writing on the AEI Web site, Auslin said China appeared comfortable in escalating military competition.
He said Woody Island was a perfect stepping-stone for Beijing to methodically extend its network of militarized bases throughout its claimed territories in the South China Sea and possibly beyond.
“If China places SAMs on its Spratly Islands [Nansha Islands, 南沙群島] possessions, joining the almost certain deployment of jet fighters on the larger islands, it will come close to covering the entire South China Sea, putting at risk freedom of overflight,” Auslin said.
US Representative Randy Forbes, chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, said the deployment of missiles “should further dispel any confusion about China’s determination to play a destabilizing role in the region.”
He said in a statement that the US and its partners should continue to steadfastly uphold freedom of navigation and overflight, and the rule of law.
US Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain said China’s action demonstrated its continued desire to resort to militarization and coercion.
“The US should consider additional options to raise the costs on Beijing’s behavior,” he said.
“Declarations that we remain committed to what amounts to an ever-changing status quo and conducting occasional freedom of navigation operations are inadequate,” he said.
“The day-to-day system management that is required to actually shape Beijing’s actions will mean adopting policies with a level of risk that we have been unwilling to consider up to this point,” he said.
Foreign Policy magazine on Thursday said that the missiles had raised the stakes in a showdown with the US.
“China’s tough tactics are forcing the US to decide whether to push back aggressively — even if it risks a military confrontation,” the magazine said.
It predicted the showdown might come this spring, when an international tribunal in The Hague will rule on China’s “nine-dash line” claims in the South China Sea.
“Experts believe the tribunal likely will rule in favor of the Philippines, which brought the suit in 2013 to forestall Chinese occupation of reefs, rocks and atolls that both countries claim,” Foreign Policy said.
That will compel Washington to decide how much to enforce the ruling and Beijing to decide whether or not to uphold the international order.
“Whatever the court rules, no one is predicting Beijing will renounce the claims it has staked out or reverse the massive reclamation work it has undertaken,” the magazine said.
“Even if the US goes all in, by stepping up naval patrols, increasing military cooperation with partners and allies in Asia, and bolstering its economic reach with a Pacific trade deal, it may be too late to roll back the Chinese tide,” it said.
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