US warns Beijing over "incremental`` manoeuvres in South China Sea

Zee Media Bureau/Supriya Jha Washington: Watchful of Chinese “incremental efforts” to assert control n South China sea, the US on Thursday warned Beijing to show some “respect for international law of the sea” and “clarify or adjust its claims” in accordance.

According to Daniel Russel, assistant US secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, any Chinese effort to assert its maritime rights not based on claimed land features would be violating the international law. "There are growing concerns that this pattern of behaviour in the South China Sea reflects incremental effort by China to assert control over the area... despite objections of its neighbours... China could highlight its respect for international law by clarifying or adjusting its claim to bring it into accordance with international law of the sea ," Mr Russel told a congressional committee. Russel also scathed at the Chinese “nine-dash line” delineating China-claimed areas in South China Sea where a host of countries like the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan also stake their claims to a number of islands. Also in a written testimony, Russel slammed Beijing for staking claims to the Senkaku Islands in East China Sea, saying that unilateral attempts by China to change the status quo would only add to the tensions . Though the US government has resisted from picking sides in the dispute over islands in South and East China Sea, but said the Senkakus come under 1960 security treaty with Japan, making it obligatory for the United States to defend Japan. In a written testimony Russel said, “The Senkakus are under the administration of Japan and unilateral attempts to change the status quo raise tensions and do nothing under international law to strengthen territorial claims”. The US also highlighted its concerns over the Air Defence Identification Zone established by Beijing last year which required the foreign flights to notify China in advance. The US, Japan and South Korea have refused to accept the legitimacy of Chinese air zone, refusing to declare their military flights through the zone.