30-6-2023 (SINGAPORE) In an address by Mr. Daniel Kritenbrink, the top US diplomat for East Asia, the United States called on Asean claimants in the South China Sea to settle their differences among themselves, aiming to enhance their “collective voice” during negotiations with China. Mr. Kritenbrink expressed satisfaction with recent agreements between Indonesia and Vietnam, as well as between Indonesia and Malaysia, to resolve their maritime boundaries and long-standing disputes over overlapping claims in the South China Sea.
“We believe that US policy has instilled regional confidence in our commitment, empowering South China Sea claimants to publicly defend their rights and interests,” stated Mr. Kritenbrink at a forum organized by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
He emphasized the US’s desire to support Southeast Asian claimants through both words and actions, acknowledging the growing trend of Chinese coercion in the contested waters. Mr. Kritenbrink cited recent incidents, including unsafe maneuvers by Chinese vessels near Vietnam’s oil and gas installations in May, which raise concerns for businesses and provide opportunities for China to promote joint development deals with state-owned firms. The United States opposes such actions and supports nations in protecting their interests and rejecting any deals that compromise their rights to natural resources within their exclusive economic zones.
While Washington maintains a neutral stance on territorial claims in the South China Sea, Mr. Kritenbrink reiterated the importance of claimants adhering to international law in their maritime claims. He emphasized the US’s focus on assisting regional countries in enhancing their maritime security, aiming to build on partnerships rather than forcing nations to choose between the US and China.
Mr. Kritenbrink highlighted the potential for India to play a greater role in partnering with the US in the South China Sea. He also mentioned plans to expand collaboration within the Quad security group, consisting of Australia, India, Japan, and the US, while welcoming the cooperation of other countries as well.
The United States’ overarching goal in the region is to strengthen the capacity of allies, partners, and friends who share a vision of a peaceful and stable world, according to Mr. Kritenbrink.
During his trip to China with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in June, both countries expressed interest in increasing the number of flights between them to enhance people-to-people ties. Mr. Kritenbrink noted that the number of commercial flights between the US and China dropped significantly from about 350 per week before the Covid-19 pandemic to just 24 currently.
Additionally, he expressed the hope of bridging the gap in the number of American and Chinese students studying in each other’s countries. Currently, there are approximately 300,000 Chinese students in the US, while the number of Americans in China stands at around 350.
Mr. Kritenbrink expressed disappointment over the lack of military talks between the US and China, highlighting the importance of reopening channels for dialogue. He mentioned the absence of the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement forum, which has not convened for approximately a year and a half, describing it as unfortunate since it played a crucial role in addressing risky maneuvers, including aircraft interceptions.
Efforts to resume military dialogue between the two countries are deemed vital by Mr. Kritenbrink, acknowledging the significance of open communication in promoting operational safety in the sea and air.
