WASHINGTON DC, KOMPAS.com – United States Secretary of State (US), Mike Pompeo on Saturday (6/27/2020) said that the US supports the establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN) about the Sea China South.
Reported Sputnik, Pompeo stated that China must not claim South China Sea in the ASEAN region as its maritime empire.
The South China Sea dispute must be resolved in line with international law.
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The United States welcomes ASEAN Leaders’ insistence that South China Sea disputes be resolved in line with international law, including UNCLOS. China cannot be allowed to treat the SCS as its maritime empire. We will have more to say on this topic soon. https://t.co/IUmzD7OksC
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) June 27, 2020
“The US welcomes the insistence of ASEAN leaders that the dispute over the South China Sea (SCS) can be resolved through international law, including UNCLOS (United Nations Convention for Maritime Law).
China cannot treat SCS as its maritime empire. We will soon discuss this topic, “Pompeo said in a tweet on Twitter.
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After the 36th ASEAN Summit on Friday (6/26/2020) yesterday, a joint statement was issued expressing concern over the complicated situation in the South China Sea.
ASEAN leaders stressed “the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation over the South China Sea, as well as upholding international law including UNCLOS 1982 in the South China Sea.”
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Indeed, the majority of the islands in the South China Sea are controlled by Beijing. However, the region is also claimed by several other countries including Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei, the Philippines and all other ASEAN members.
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