MANILA, Philippines – With numerous acts showing outright “bullying” of South China Sea claimant states, the United States has said it remains skeptical of China’s commitment to negotiate an effective code of conduct in the disputed waters. This comes on the heels of a commitment made by Southeast Asian nations early this year to fast-track a meaningful code of conduct in the disputed South China Sea. If China continues with its current behavior and its provocative insistence of its sweeping maritime claim dubbed the “nine-dash line,” Stilwell said a code of conduct would be harmful to the region. “PRC maritime claims in the South China Sea, exemplified by the preposterous nine-dash line, are both unlawful and unreasonable. “PRC actions in the South China Sea are a threat not only to South China Sea claimant states, or to Southeast Asian nations generally, but to all trading nations and all who value freedom of the seas and the peaceful settlement of disputes,” he added.

Source: Philippine Star October 18, 2019 16:05 UTC