Opinion: What makes Pompeo think the U.S. can judge South China Sea claims?

By Wang Xiao

The situation in the South China Sea over the past couple of years has been largely calm and peaceful thanks to joint efforts formulating a Code of Conduct (COC) between China and ASEAN member countries. Even though the COC does not solve the complicated territorial disputes, it has helped to regulate the behavior of all parties and reduce the risk of conflict. As developing countries, all involved share the priority of economic growth and putting people's welfare first. The COC serves that purpose well.

The USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Carrier Strike Groups steam in formation, in the South China Sea, July 6, 2020. [Photo: Jason Tarleton/U.S. Navy via AP]

The U.S., however, is ignoring the hard work undertaken by the regional countries to maintain peace and stability by continuing to increase its military presence in the South China Sea. For example, it has dispatched the USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs) for a large-scale naval exercise this month, and regularly operates aircraft in the name of Freedom of Navigation. Behavior like this is likely to stir up trouble, giving rise to geopolitical competition between China and the U.S.

On Monday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rejected Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea. In a statement, he appears to stress the importance of the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea. Ironically, the United States itself is not even a party to the Law, nor is it a claimant to the territorial disputes.

Last month, the Trump administration issued an executive order to sanction and restrict visas against international criminal court officials who are investigating potential war crimes committed by U.S. military and intelligence officials in Afghanistan. As a country with little regard for international law, why is the U.S. suddenly interested in upholding it?

What's more puzzling is Pompeo's assertion that the Chinese claim in the South China Sea is "illegal", which makes him sound like a self-appointed judge.

As is known, the Republican Party's playbook for the November presidential election is to "blame China" for everything. In fact, candidates of both the Republican and Democratic parties, Donald Trump and Joe Biden, are trying to out tough each other when it comes to China. Containing the rise of China has been the strategic driving force behind U.S. policy regarding Xinjiang, Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well as Huawei and TikTok. The South China Sea announcement is only the latest move against Beijing.

Given all this, nobody would be surprised if Pompeo made further nonsensical remarks about China in the coming months.

Note: Wang Xiao is a journalist with China Plus and CRI's former correspondent in Australia. The article reflects the author's own views.