South China Sea: US warns Beijing against building ‘great wall of self-isolation’

China risks further alienating regional neighbours and building a “great wall of self-isolation” as it pursues its military expansion across the South China Sea, US defense secretary Ashton Carter warned on Saturday.

Speaking at a security summit in Singapore, Carter said countries across the Asia-Pacific region continue to fret over China’s sweeping claims of sovereignty in the South China Sea, and its attempts to bolster these by creating military bases on reclaimed islets and increasing maritime patrols.

“China’s actions in the South China Sea are isolating it, at a time when the entire region is coming together and networking,” Carter said in a speech at an annual forum known as the Shangri-La Dialogue.

“Unfortunately, if these actions continue, China could end up erecting a great wall of self-isolation.”

Beijing’s claim to nearly the entire South China Sea has angered Southeast Asian neighbours and pitted it against the United States, which has conducted patrols near Chinese-held islands to press for freedom of navigation. The contested waters encompass key global shipping lanes.

The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam have competing claims in the area, which is believed to have significant oil and gas deposits.

The Philippines has filed a case against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and a decision is expected in the coming weeks but China has said it will not recognise any ruling.

Read More- The Guardian

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