The United States Navy Admiral and Commander of the Indo-Pacific Command, Samuel Paparo, stated on Monday (3rd) that the threatening behaviors of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and other countries are challenging the stability of the Indo-Pacific region. He warned that the United States will not allow any country to dominate the Indo-Pacific region.
According to reports from the Associated Press, speaking via video link at a regional security conference organized by the United States Indo-Pacific Command in Malaysia, Paparo said some actors are using “false claims of legality” to justify intimidation and threats.
“That is not the rule of law, it is rule by law in name only. The distinction between law as a tool to maintain order and law as a naked weapon of power is the decisive watershed of our time,” he said.
Paparo made these remarks as tensions continue in the South China Sea. The extensive maritime sovereignty claims of the CCP regime in the South China Sea overlap and conflict with the claims of several Southeast Asian countries. Recent incidents of maritime standoffs between China and the Philippines have occurred, especially near disputed shoals.
The Philippines has accused the CCP government of engaging in dangerous actions such as water cannon attacks and attempting to block Philippine resupply missions. China denies these accusations and insists that the relevant waters fall within its jurisdiction.
The United States has stated that it will not take sides in sovereignty disputes but will support freedom of navigation, international law, and the ability of countries to act in accordance with their own rights.
Paparo emphasized that maritime freedom, maritime security, and open trade are key to regional stability. He pointed out that peaceful dispute resolution and respect for the sovereignty of nations are crucial to maintaining order in the Indo-Pacific region.
“Our position and intentions are clear. The United States will deter China not through confrontation but by strength, and we will never allow any country to dominate this region or trample on the hard-won sovereign rights of independent countries,” he said.
Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro stated during the conference that they will continue to resist and “counter” threats from China.
During a press conference after the meeting, Teodoro said that the concerns of the Philippines are not limited to China’s activities in the South China Sea but also include its actions in other regions, such as the recent launching of ballistic missiles towards the Pacific by China. He stated that this reflects China’s strengthening military presence in the Indo-Pacific region.