China’s pursuit of offshore means in areas of the South China Sea is “absolutely unlawful”, US Secretary of Point out Mike Pompeo has said.

Mr Pompeo said he wanted to make distinct that Beijing’s “campaign of bullying to command” the disputed waters was completely wrong.

China mentioned that the US “deliberately distorts points and global legislation”.

China has been making navy bases on synthetic islands in the area also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

The nations around the world have wrangled in excess of territory in the South China Sea for centuries, but stress has steadily improved in the latest many years.

Beijing claims an region recognised as the “nine-dash line” and has backed its declare with island-building and patrols, growing its armed forces presence there.

• Why is the South China Sea contentious?

While largely uninhabited, two island chains in the space could have reserves of purely natural sources around them. The sea is also a shipping and delivery route and has significant fishing grounds.

What did Mr Pompeo say?

In a assertion on Monday, Mr Pompeo denounced China’s promises on the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, declaring Beijing experienced “no lawful grounds to unilaterally impose its will on the area”.

He reported the US, which has beforehand stated it does not get sides in territorial disputes, turned down Beijing’s statements to waters off Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia.

“Any [People’s Republic of China] action to harass other states’ fishing or hydrocarbon enhancement in these waters – or to have out these pursuits unilaterally – is unlawful,” he explained.

“The earth will not permit Beijing to take care of the South China Sea as its maritime empire.”

How did China answer?

In a assertion posted on Twitter, the Chinese embassy in Washington DC said the US point out office “intentionally distorts the information and global regulation together with the United Nations Convention on the Regulation of the Sea”.

It claimed America “exaggerates the problem in the region and tries to sow discord in between China and other littoral international locations.

“The accusation is absolutely unjustified. The Chinese side is firmly opposed to it.”

Significant dangers with seemingly insignificant islands

Zhaoyin Feng, BBC Chinese, Washington DC

Prior to now, the US experienced not taken sides on territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

4 many years right after an intercontinental tribunal in The Hague ruled that China’s promises in the region have no authorized foundation, the US has for the initially time formally designed its stance obvious. But why now?

Very last 7 days, China and the US held naval workout routines in the spot at the very same time – a exceptional phenomenon indicating increasing tensions.

In the even bigger context, the Trump administration has pledged to overturn what it states is 40 several years of coverage failure with regard to China. Washington has lately criticised Beijing on concerns ranging from its dealing with of the coronavirus pandemic, to human rights violations in opposition to Muslim minorities in Xinjiang and how it has dealt with professional-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

But it was China’s land reclamation projects in the South China Sea that prompted the relaxation of the globe to reassess Beijing’s worldwide ambitions.

And the stakes in the location are exceptionally substantial. In these seemingly insignificant island chains and reefs, there are growing risks of armed forces conflict amongst the world’s two most strong international locations.

Mr Pompeo claimed the US stood “with our South-East Asian allies and partners in preserving their sovereign rights to offshore sources,” incorporating that this placement was “steady with their legal rights and obligations under intercontinental law”.

What’s behind the South China Sea dispute?

The sea, residence to critical shipping and delivery lanes, has in new yrs become a flashpoint for tensions concerning China and other nations which claim sovereignty above two largely uninhabited island chains, the Paracels and the Spratlys.

China promises the premier part of territory, declaring its legal rights go back hundreds of years. The area is rich for fishing and is assumed to have abundant oil and fuel reserves.

The US has long been critical of what it says is China’s militarisation of the area and routinely angers Beijing with “liberty of navigation” missions.

In August 2018, a BBC crew flew in excess of the disputed South China Sea islands in a US armed forces aircraft. In a radio communication, the pilots were being warned to depart the space “straight away” in get to “prevent any misunderstanding”.

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Months previously, China landed bombers in the disputed territory to get element in drills on islands and reefs.

China has previously accused the US Navy of provocation and interference in regional matters.