US and China Clash at UN Security Council Over South China Sea Issue... "China Threatens Other Countries"

Blinken US Secretary of State "China's Illegal Sovereignty Claims"
Diving Chinese UN Ambassador "US is the Biggest Threat in the South China Sea"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The United States and China clashed head-on over the South China Sea sovereignty issue during a United Nations Security Council meeting. The U.S. harshly criticized China for continuing provocations to push its illegal territorial claims in the South China Sea, while China countered by accusing the U.S. of being the most serious threat to peace in the South China Sea.

According to the Associated Press on the 9th (local time), during a high-level remote meeting of the UN Security Council focused on maritime security, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken strongly criticized China regarding the South China Sea issue. Secretary Blinken stated, "We have witnessed dangerous encounters between vessels in the South China Sea as well as provocative actions by China to push its illegal territorial claims," adding, "The United States is clearly concerned about actions that threaten and harass other countries attempting to access their maritime resources."

He then referred to the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), which did not recognize China's sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, pointing out that "China's unilateral claims could have serious international security and commercial consequences." Secretary Blinken criticized, "If China's illegal maritime activities go unpunished, instability will increase everywhere."

In response to the U.S.'s strong criticism, China immediately pushed back. Dai Bing, China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN attending the meeting, said, "The greatest threat to peace and stability in the South China Sea is the United States," and harshly criticized Secretary Blinken's remarks as "politically motivated propaganda."

Regarding Secretary Blinken's reference to the PCA ruling, he countered, "The PCA ruling is invalid and has no binding force. It made clear errors in fact-finding," adding, "The situation in the South China Sea is stable, and the United States, which has not yet ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, is not qualified to address maritime issues."