US Not “Neutral” in South China Sea Disputes: Top US Diplomat

A US assistant secretary of state insists that the country won’t take a position on competing claims for small bits of land in the South China Sea, but does expect international law to be followed. In a speech, Daniel Russel explained “that the United States was currently encouraging relevant parties in the South China Sea to create the atmosphere and conditions necessary to manage the disputes peacefully, diplomatically and lawfully despite escalating tensions there partly caused by China’s assertive actions,” reports Prashanth Parameswaran for the Diplomat. Russel encouraged claimants and those who depend on open sea lanes to refrain from activity that could trigger conflict including “reclaiming land, building facilities and militarizing features.” The United States will invest in “maritime domain awareness for coastal states and carrying out freedom of navigation operations.” The US Senate has yet to ratify the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, a legal mechanism for settling such international disputes. – YaleGlobal