Australia, Japan And U.S.: The South China Sea Isn’t China’s Own Sea

Australia, Japan and the U.S. have a clear and loud message for China: The South China Sea isn’t China’s own sea. It’s an international sea. That’s why the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Beijing must establish a set of rules that were “legally binding, meaningful, effective, and consistent with international law.”

The message, which came at a recent gathering of the foreign ministers of the three countries in Manila, echoes a similar message America and its naval allies, France, Japan and Britain sent to Beijing six months ago stating that the South China Sea should be open to all military vessels.

That’s according to a recent Chinatopix.com report. “Japan and the United States are worried by China’s efforts to exercise unilateral control over the South China Sea, a concern shared by France, which controls several Pacific islands, including New Caledonia and French Polynesia.”

Financial markets in the region do not seem that concerned, at least for now, focusing on the economic fundamentals rather than the geopolitics of the region.

US – Destroyer

Meanwhile, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte calledhimself a “humble” friend of America in Southeast Asia, suggesting that he is getting ready for another in a series of flip-flops in the South China Sea dispute.

China considers the waterway its own sea, and is building artificial islands, defying international tribunal rulings, though Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte isn’t prepared to stop Beijing — Philippines is the country that won an international tribunal ruling against China.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2017/08/09/australia-japan-and-us-the-south-china-sea-isnt-chinas-own-sea/#229133f56332

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