`Defense Secretary Mark Esper expressed concern with China’s destabilizing activities in the South China Sea and areas near Taiwan, emphasizing the importance of Beijing’s compliance with laws, norms and practices.
Secretary Esper at a security conference in the US on August 5.
The Pentagon later also issued a statement about the phone call, saying the two sides agreed to `develop the necessary system for crisis communication and risk mitigation.`
This is the first phone call between Secretary Esper and his Chinese counterpart since March. It takes place in a context where US-China relations are at their lowest level in decades, related to many issues such as:
`Minister Wei urged the US side to stop using wrong words and actions, improve its ability to control maritime risks, avoid taking dangerous steps that could escalate tensions, and protect
China has recently carried out a series of aggressive activities in the East Sea, such as sending the Hai Duong 8 geological survey ship into Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone, then following a Malaysian drilling ship, ramming and sinking a coast guard ship.
The US State Department last month published a statement from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, which rejected China’s claims to resources in most of the East Sea, and called the country’s moves aimed at
Washington said it is adjusting its stance on China’s claims in the East Sea in accordance with the contents of the 2016 ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Vietnam has repeatedly asked China to stop illegal actions that complicate the situation and threaten peace and stability in the East Sea.
The Chinese military has recently held many exercises around the island of Taiwan with the most modern equipment, and at the same time conducted a series of close flights, forcing the island’s defense forces to send fighters to prevent it.