US seeks stronger alliance with India in South China Sea

The United States would increase cooperation and engagement with India in the South China Sea, where China has been at the centre of multiple territorial disputes with regional countries, a senior US diplomat for East Asia on Wednesday. Tensions are high in contested portions of the sea, which serves as one of the world’s most significant trade channels, carrying more than $3 trillion in annual ship-borne commerce. China claims practically the whole sea as its territory and says conflicts should be resolved by regional governments without outside intervention. Recently, the US and India declared themselves “among the closest partners in the world” last week during a state visit to Washington by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and emphasized adherence to international law in addressing challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the South China Sea. The US has seen a “clear and upward trend” of Chinese “coercion” in the disputed waters, Daniel Kritenbrink told Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies. Asked whether India would have a growing role in the South China Sea and greater cooperation with the U.S. there, Kritenbrink said “Yes,” adding that there would be greater collaboration among a group of regional powers - the U.S., India, Japan and Australia - known as the Quad. He said the U.S. focus in the region was on building the capacity of allies, partners and friends that share a vision for a peaceful and stable world. “We will welcome cooperation with any country that embraces that vision. That of course includes India,” Kritenbrink said. “Large countries should not bully smaller ones,” he added, referring to China’s disputes with other South China Sea claimants. The spokesperson for China’s Washington embassy said Beijing’s South China Sea position had a solid historical and legal basis, whereas the U.S. was not a party to the disputes and should not be conducting military operations in the area. “If the U.S. cares about the stability of the South China Sea and wants to avoid accidents, I think it needs to stop the reconnaissance operations against China,” Liu Pengyu told a news briefing. The United States has been seeking to revive direct military-to-military contact with China to avoid misunderstandings that could lead to unintended conflict, but China has resisted this. Though not a South China Sea claimant, India has in recent years stepped up security ties in the region, signalling its intent to play a bigger role in efforts to counter China. India’s navy said on Wednesday it was sending an active duty missile corvette to Vietnam as a gift, the first warship it has given to any country. Kritenbrink referred to “unsafe manoeuvres” by Chinese vessels inside Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone last month, particularly in the waters around oil and gas installations. “(China’s) provocative behaviour exacerbates risks for businesses, effectively pushing out the competition and paving the way for the PRC to push a joint development deal with its state-owned firms,” he said. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News ,  Trending News ,  Cricket News ,  Bollywood News , India News  and  Entertainment News  here. Follow us on  Facebook,  Twitter and  Instagram.