China pushing territorial claims under cover of coronavirus: US
China is using the coronavirus as a cover to push territorial claims in the South China Sea through a surge in naval activity designed to intimidate other countries that claim the waters, the commander of USA Forces in Japan said on Friday.
There has been a surge of activity by China in the South China Sea with navy ships, coast guard vessels and a naval militia of fishing boats for sale harassing vessels in waters claimed by Beijing, said Lieutenant-General Kevin Schneider.
"Through the span of the Covid crisis, we saw a surge of maritime activity," he told Reuters in a phone interview. He said Beijing had also increased its activity in the East China Sea, where it includes a territorial dispute with Japan.
Beijing's increased level of activity may likely continue, predicted Lt-Gen Schneider. "I don't see troughs, I see plateaus," he said. China says its maritime activities in the area are peaceful. The press office at the Chinese embassy in Tokyo had not been immediately available to comment beyond normal business hours.
Japan hosts the largest concentration folks forces in Asia, including an aircraft carrier strike group, an amphibious expeditionary force and fighter squadrons.Furthermore to defending Japan, they are deployed to deter China from expanding its influence in your community, including in the South China Sea.
The most recent US criticism of China comes as relations have frayed amid accusations by Washington that Beijing didn't warn it quickly enough about the coronavirus. China has dismissed that criticism as an effort by President Donald Trump's administration to hide its own mistakes.
Beijing has generated military island bases on reefs in the energy-rich South China Sea, in or local waters claimed by other countries, like the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia. It imposed a unilateral fishing ban until August 16.
