The United States has repeatedly said that while it takes no position on competing sovereignty claims over disputed land features in the South China Sea, it does want these maritime claims to be advanced in accordance with international law and without the use of coercion. That hedged position has led some to incorrectly read the U.S. stance on the issue as being ‘neutral,’ with China in particular accusing Washington of ‘taking sides.’
But in response to a question by a Chinese participant on perceived U.S. ‘neutrality’ in the South China Sea, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel firmly clarified at a think tank conference in Washington, D.C. that this neutrality only extended to the competing claims, rather than the way in which the disputes were resolved.
“We are not neutral when it comes to adhering to international law. We will come down forcefully when it comes to following the rules,” Russel said during a keynote speech delivered at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
In this vein, Russel said in his speech that the United States was currently encouraging relevant parties in the South China Sea to create the atmosphere and conditions necessary to manage the disputes peacefully, diplomatically and lawfully despite escalating tensions there partly caused by China’s assertive actions.
“We’re pushing the parties to revive the spirit of cooperation,” Russel said.
The focus, Russel said, would be on lowering the temperature and creating the breathing room necessary to pursue peaceful paths toward resolving disputes, such as negotiations and arbitration. He encouraged all actors – not just China – to cease actions that run contrary to this spirit, including reclaiming land, building facilities and militarizing features. Beijing has been engaging in an extensive land reclamation activities in the South China Sea to the alarm of claimants and outside actors.
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