(VOVworld) – US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said China is erecting a Great Wall of self-isolation when it continues military acts in the East Sea.
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| U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter delivering a speech at the IIIS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday (Photo: Associated Press) |
Speaking at Singapore’s Shangri-La Dialogue, Ashton Carter said the Asia-Pacific countries are seriously affected by China’s expansive policies and its plan to build military bases in the disputed islands and enhance marine patrols to support its illegal claims in the East Sea. The US Defense Secretary said the US is not for any side but supports maintaining marine freedom in the region and resolving conflicts in peaceful means in line with international law. Carter urged Beijing to respect the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague, the Netherlands about the case of the Philippines in order not affect regional security.
Japan’s Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Tokyo was concerned about China’s unilateral acts to change the status quo in the East Sea. Speaking on Saturday at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Mr. Nakatani said China’s construction of areas for military purposes on the conflicted islands is posing challenges to the global order. He said peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific is not the only problem in the region but also affects the world, thus no one is outsider in this issue.