U.S. Formally Rejects Beijing’s South China Sea Claims

Bloomberg: U.S. Denounces China’s Claims to South China Sea as Unlawful

The Trump administration rejected China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, reversing a previous policy of not taking sides in such disputes and escalating tensions with Beijing on yet another front.

The move aligns the U.S. with a 2016 ruling by a United Nations tribunal that found China’s claims to waters also contested by the Philippines were unlawful. It’s meant to push back against what the U.S. sees as an intensifying Chinese campaign to dominate the resource-rich South China Sea and smaller nations in the region.

“We are making clear: Beijing’s claims to offshore resources across most of the South China Sea are completely unlawful, as is its campaign of bullying to control them,” Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said in a statement Monday.

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WNU Editor: China has responded .... China firmly opposes U.S. interference in South China Sea issue

(CGTN)

More News On The U.S. Formally Rejecting Beijing’s South China Sea Claims

Full text of US statement on the South China Sea and China's response -- Straits Times
US rejects nearly all Chinese claims in South China Sea -- AP
U.S. rejects China's claims in South China Sea, adding to tensions -- Reuters
US declares 'most' of China's maritime claims in South China Sea illegal -- CNN
South China Sea dispute: China's pursuit of resources 'unlawful', says US -- BBC
The US is officially rejecting Beijing's disputed claims to most of the South China Sea and its 'predatory' moves to impose them -- Business Insider
US rejects China's claims in South China Sea drawing Beijing ire -- Al Jazeera
US Rejects Chinese Claim To South China Sea In Major Reversal Of Obama-Era Appeasement -- Zero Hedge