Blinken urges China to end 'aggressive actions' in region
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Amid claims that China is destabilizing the Asia-Pacific, the US continues bolstering allies in the face of China under the guise of bringing "peace and stability" to the region.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, near Jakarta, Indonesia, December 13, 2021 (Reuters)
US State Secretary Antony Blinken urged Tuesday China to cease alleged "aggressive actions" in the Asia-Pacific during his visit to the region, which comes in light of Washington's efforts to rally allies against Beijing.
Washington's claims of "aggressive actions" come weeks after a US warship transited the Taiwan strait despite Chinese warnings against such a move.
The Biden administration is trying to reassert influence in Asia after the turbulence Asian-US relations experienced under the Trump administration.
President Biden and his administration have repeatedly reiterated they would "defend" allied Taiwan in the case of any alleged Chinese invasion of the island as Beijing calls on Washington to act with caution on the issue.
Blinken's comments came in Indonesia, the first leg of his tour in Southeast Asia, the latest visit to the region by a senior US official in recent months.
In a speech from the island nation, Blinken said the US would work with its allies and partners to "defend the rules-based order," boldly saying countries should "have the right to choose their own path."
Blinken claimed that China raised concerns in the Asia-Pacific, citing "aggressive actions". He alleged that China was claiming "open seas as their own" and accusing Beijing of "denying the exports or revoking deals for countries whose policies it does not agree with."
It is worth noting that the United States, the nation accusing China of denying export to countries whose policies it does not agree with, has repeatedly imposed economic sanctions on Beijing and numerous other countries over policies Washington did not agree with.
Amid allegations of Chinese destabilization in the region, Blinken said the US wanted to "ensure peace and stability in the Taiwan strait" after an October report found that Washington had been discreetly training Taiwanese forces on Taiwanese soil for at least a year.
Over 20 special operations and conventional forces have been conducting training in Taiwan, which involved several small units of the Taiwanese ground force. The US marines have been conducting small-boat training with local maritime forces.
The Taiwanese Defense Ministry did not comment on the report; however, the US said Washington's support for the US military was "gauged on its defense needs."
Washington and Taipei City cited "Chinese threats" for alleged "defense needs", while Washington continues to be Taiwan's primary arms supplier.
The United States has on multiple occasions sent warships across the Taiwan strait, which has been chiefly contributing to US-Chinese relations.
Chinese President Xi Xinping had previously pledged that a complete "peaceful reunification" with Taiwan "will be and can be realized" as the US continues alleging that Beijing plans to use force to reunify its territories.
