British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond made a clear statement that contending territorial claims in the South China Sea is a key for global artery, risking over and must be solved serenely. Tension and the risk of escalation may arise, the claiming dealt must undergo a rules-based, not power-based. The freedom of navigation must be observed accordance with international law and should not have the navigation for warships and airplanes.
Recently it’s been a big issue about China claiming most of the South China Sea, overlapping with areas the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan consider to be their territory. China has been pouring massive amounts of sand to broaden and fortify small reefs and construct facilities in the area, defending the meant to encourage maritime and navigational security and scientific research as well as having military purposes.
The UK depends on global sea lanes for the delivery of 95 percent of its trade and has a strong interest in the constancy of the South China Sea region. The matter should be addressed in a way which is consist with the long-term peace and solidity of the region, a high-level talks ahead of a designed is indeed to solve the disputed area.
