U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will sharpen U.S. criticism of Chinese policies around the globe with a blunt warning on Thursday that the United States will not back down from what Washington sees as Chinese intimidation in the South China Sea.
In a speech to the Hudson Institute, Pence will say China is using its power in “more proactive and coercive ways to interfere in the domestic policies and politics of the United States.”
Pence will state a Chinese naval vessel came within 45 yards (meters) of the USS Decatur “as it conducted freedom-of-navigation operations in the South China Sea, forcing our ship to quickly maneuver to avoid collision.”
“Despite such reckless harassment, the United States Navy will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows and our national interests demand. We will not be intimidated. We will not stand down,” he will say.
“Relations between China and the other claimants have been relatively calm recently, but the conflict in the South China Sea has been intensified by the involvement of the US,” he said.
“When two big nations are confronting each other, it is necessary to maintain a proper military balance to avoid the conflict from getting out of control,” he said. “The other nations in Southeast Asia will find it very difficult being sandwiched between the two big powers.”
The Vice President will also argue that Chinese officials have endeavoured to influence business leaders to denounce US trade actions, “leveraging their desire to maintain their operations in China”.
> Shiuly Rina
Mike Pence not Afraid of Chinese 'intimidation' in South China Sea
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