US to monitor South China sea, says official

SYDNEY: The United States will monitor the South China Sea to see whether "de-escalatory steps" are being taken, a US State Department official said on Monday, a day after China repelled US pressure to rein in actions in the disputed waters.

The official spoke as US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Sydney for a meeting with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Australian officials to discuss increased defence and cyber security cooperation.

"The immediate follow-up is to assess the meeting scheduled in a few weeks between Asean nd China at the working group and the senior official level to discuss what equates to the freeze," the US official told reporters.

"We will also be monitoring the actual situation around the rocks, reefs, and shoals in the South China Sea."

China's Xinhua state news agency warned on Monday that "by stoking the flames, Washington is further emboldening countries like the Philippines and Vietnam to take a hardline stance against China, raising suspicion over the real intention of the United States and make an amicable solution more difficult to reach."

"It is a painful reality that Uncle Sam has left too many places in chaos after it stepped in, as what people are witnessing now in Iraq, Syria and Libya," Xinhua added in a commentary.

"The South China Sea should not be the next one."

"I think it's pretty clear, China's actions speak for themselves," US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told reporters at a briefing in Sydney, adding the US position remained that such disputes should be resolved through international law.

Australia was one of the countries to support the US proposal at the weekend Asean meeting in Myanmar. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop travelled to Australia with Kerry and they planned to explore follow up actions to the Myanmar talks including an upcoming meeting between Asean members and China, the official said.

Bishop is hosting the annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) in Sydney, where defence and security co-operation is expected to be high on the agenda along with Iraq and Ukraine.

Talks will include discussions on cooperation in ballistic missile defence, cyber security and maritime security, Hagel told reporters at a briefing with Australian Defence Minister David Johnston ahead of the formal talks.

Reuters

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/us-to-monitor-south-china-sea-says-official/