Mattis: We're not asking any country to choose between China and USMANILA, Philippines — Washington is not forcing any country to choose between the United States and China, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said during a security and defense summit in Singapore. In his speech, Mattis noted that Beijing's policy in the South China Sea stands in contrast with Washington's strategy of openness. "To be clear, we do not ask any country to choose between the United States and China, because a friend does not demand you choose among them," Mattis said during the 2018 Shangri-La Dialogue. The Pentagon chief pointed out that Chinese President Xi Jinping reneged on his promise to former US President Barack Obama that China would not militarize the South China Sea. Just last week, Beijing called out Washington for "playing up" the militarization of man-made islands in the South China Sea.

Source: Philippine Star June 04, 2018 03:22 UTC