‘Encounters between Chinese, US militaries in South China Sea generally safe’: NGO

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – The “interactions and encounters” between the Chinese and US militaries in the disputed South China Sea area are “generally professional and safe,” according to a recent report by a Beijing-based think tank.

The impact of widely discussed geopolitical factors, including major power competition and maritime disputes, was “very limited” on the wide mineral-rich waterway, according to the South China Sea Probing Initiative (SCSPI).

Noting that the waterway sees some 500,000 trips by merchant vessels annually, it said millions of civilian aircraft fly over the South China Sea. The waterway sees at least 10 “encounters” on daily basis.

“On the security front, military forces from both regional and external countries conduct over 20,000 ship-days and more than 30,000 aircraft sorties in the South China Sea annually, along with hundreds of large-scale drills and various exercises,” the report added.

Besides its rich mineral base, the South China Sea is also home to disputes between the coastal states, including China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan.

Although Beijing claims vast maritime territory in the South China Sea under its so-called nine-dash line, the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said it has no legal basis under international law.

China claimed the ruling is not valid, and Beijing has been in negotiations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) since 2002 for a code of conduct for the disputed sea.

However, the Chinese and Filipino vessels have collided several times in recent months, following which two sides made counter-diplomatic protests with Manila drawing the support of the US and its allies.

“Both regional and external countries should contribute their efforts, play constructive roles, and work together to make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation,” said the report.

“Friction between foreign military forces and the Chinese military in the South China Sea primarily involves three specific areas and one type of specific operation,” it added.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army responded “vigorously, employing actions including interception and pushing outwards” if foreign forces approached the Chinese mainland or Hainan Island territorial waters and airspace.

“The peace, stability, freedom, and security of the South China Sea is crucial to not only the well-being of regional countries but also the development and security of the region and more globally,” the report said, calling for peaceful resolution through direct negotiations between conflicting coastal states.