US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper (Photo: AP)

During an online discussion sponsored by the Brookings Institution, Esper said the US is continuing to closely monitor what the Chinese are doing, pointing out that the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) is still carrying out its duties in the East Sea, despite the Covid-19 pandemic.  

He said: “We are continuing to watch closely what the Chinese are doing. And as you know, it has been reported that the Chinese has been a little more provocative in that part of the world. We saw that they sunk a Vietnamese vessel. They are doing other things that are very aggressive and not consistent with the international rules that we should all be following.”

Esper said China is claiming territory that simply is not theirs.