The commander of the U.S. Pacific Command told U.S. lawmakers Wednesday China is engaged in a “fairly massive land reclamation” effort on contested islands in the South China Sea. Admiral Samuel Locklear also said that despite a slowdown in its economy, China continues to maintain double-digit increases in its defense spending as it pursues a comprehensive military modernization program.
Admiral Locklear told members of the House Armed Services Committee the Chinese are “showing no slowdown in the pace of their military modernization, particularly in the navy.” He said five years of double-digit increases continue into 2015, allowing China to gain influence in the South and East China Seas.
“Now, they are doing this in combination with what we have seen to be a fairly massive land reclamation in the Spratly Islands and upgrades to facilities in the Paracel Islands, which are the two regions in the South China Sea,” he said.
The Pacific Command (PACCOM) commander said this gives the Chinese the ability to deploy, base and resupply what he calls “lower-end,” or non-combatant vessels, like maritime patrol boats in the region.
“It allows them to exert, basically, greater influence over what is now a contested area. [The] expanded land features down there also could eventually lead to the deployment of things, such as long-range radars, military and advanced missile systems, and it might be a platform for them, if they ever wanted to establish an air defense – or ADIZ – zone down there for them to be able to enforce that from,” said Locklear.
Locklear added that up to now, Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines and Vietnam, who also have claims on the Spratlys and Paracels, have had little success in formulating an effective response to China’s actions.
Images released by the satellite-imaging company DigitalGlobe Tuesday show Woody and Duncan Islands in the Paracels, east of Vietnam, have expanded significantly. Other images show the speedy Chinese construction of at least seven islands in the Spratly group between Vietnam and the Philippines. A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman has indicated the artificial islands will be used for military and civilian purposes.
At the same congressional hearing Wednesday, Undersecretary of Defense Christine Wormuth said China’s maritime activities have created ‘significant friction’ with its neighbors.
“We’ve urged China to show restraint and to refrain from further activities that undermine regional trust. We also have continued to urge China to clarify the meaning of its ambiguous nine-dash line claim as a starting point as a way of reducing tensions and provide greater transparency to countries in the region,” said Wormuth.
Last week, President Obama said “where we get concerned with China is where it is not necessarily abiding by international norms and rules and is using its sheer size and muscle to force countries into subordinate positions.” But, the president said he thought China’s growing maritime assertiveness could be solved diplomatically.
China has accused Washington of taking sides in the dispute and of interfering in regional affairs, including Beijing’s territorial disagreement with Japan over islands in the East China Sea in order “to salvage its waning influence in the Asia-Pacific” region.
John Blaxland, an Australian National University defense senior fellow, said Washington is frustrated by watching these developments from the sidelines. Blaxland said China is backing up its claims with massive resources and redrawing the South China Sea map.
“It’s inventing islands that are hardly likely to be un-invented. So, this is unprecedented. The potential for conflict amongst the scattered Spratly Islands claimants is growing and, there is no question, the stakes are high. But, from China’s perspective, securing its trade routes and its resources, these are vital national interests,” said Blaxland.
And, he said China is pursuing its ambitions with unmatched determination and U.S. policy must be carefully calibrated.
“Taking sides and supporting an ally over a contested claim in defense of their concerns and in challenging China and its potential positioning of radars and missiles risks sparking a war,” he said.
He said that on balance, China’s claims to the islands are as strong, if not stronger, than those of the other claimants. He said China will push as hard and as far as it can until it hits resistance that will take it to the brink of conflict, but not over.
Blaxland said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations must act with resolve and unity if it wants its member states’ claims to be respected. Otherwise, he sees little prospect the dispute will be contained or wound back.
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