Chinese attempts to claim sovereignty over a pair of critical shipping lanes that also hold “significant” oil and gas reserves should provoke economic sanctions from the United States, according to a pair of senators.
China has been building artificial islands and structures capable of holding surface-air-missiles in the South China Sea, a relatively narrow passage between several countries that bears $5.2 trillion worth of global commerce every year. The United States, lacking any territorial claim to the waters, has asserted the right of freedom of navigation in the area and supported the Philippines in contesting China’s new territorial. But the sanctions legislation would put the U.S. government in direct opposition to the Chinese.
“China’s illegitimate actions in the South China Sea threaten the region’s security and American commerce,” Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said Wednesday. “These ongoing, flagrant violations of international norms cannot be allowed to go unchecked, and the sanctions called for in this legislation would put Beijing on notice that the United States means business and intends to hold violators accountable.”
The sanctions bill, which also sides against the Chinese in their territorial dispute with Japan in the East China Sea, would sanction Chinese individuals and entities that work on the militarization of the waters. It also puts foreign banks that “knowingly conduct or facilitate a significant financial transaction for sanctioned individuals and entities if China takes certain actions” on notice that they might risk sanctions.
The release of the legislation coincides with a report that China is proceeding with plans to prepare for military construction in the South China Sea. But it also follows on the heels of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte disclaiming interest in opposing China’s claims.
“America wants to pick a fight there,” Duterte said Monday. “Why would I get into a trouble in that area?”
Such statements from the president of a U.S. ally lend extra significance to a provision that would “restrict foreign assistance to countries that recognize China’s sovereignty” in the South China Sea or the East China Sea.
“In the face of [Chinese] actions the United States must be crystal-clear with regards to our long-standing national interests in the free-flow of commerce, freedom of navigation, and in the peaceful diplomatic resolution of disputes consistent with international law, and that we will safeguard our interests and those of our allies and partners and uphold a rules-based order for the Asia-Pacific region,” Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, said Monday. “This legislation provides significant new tools and options for our policy in the region and I’m pleased to join Senator Rubio in this effort.”
