US expects more cooperation with India in South China Sea

WASHINGTON, June 28 (Reuters) – Top U.S. diplomat for East Asia Daniel Kritenbrink said on Wednesday that he looks forward to a greater partnership between the United States and India on issues in the South China Sea, where China has been at the center of numerous territorial disputes with countries in the region. .

The United States and India declared “among the closest partners in the world” last week during a state visit to Washington by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stressed adherence to international law in addressing challenges to the rules-based maritime order, including in the South China Sea.

The United States has seen a “clear and upward trend” of Chinese “coercion” in disputed waters, Kritenbrink told the think tank at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Asked if India would have an increasing role in the South China Sea and more cooperation with the US there, Kritenbrink said “Yes”, adding that there would be more collaboration between a group of regional powers – the US USA, India, Japan and Australia. known as the Quadruple.

He said the United States’ focus in the region was to build the capacity of allies, partners and friends who share a vision of a peaceful and stable world.

“We welcome cooperation with any country that embraces that vision. That, of course, includes India,” Kritenbrink said.

“Big countries should not bully smaller ones,” he added, referring to China’s disputes with other South China Sea claimants.

Tensions are high in the disputed parts of the South China Sea, one of the world’s most important trade routes and a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual maritime trade.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its territory and says disputes should be left to countries in the region to settle without outside interference.

Although not a claimant to the South China Sea, India has in recent years strengthened security ties in the region, indicating its intention to play a greater role in efforts to counter China.

The Indian Navy said on Wednesday that it would send an active-duty missile corvette to Vietnam. like a giftthe first warship ever given to any country.

Kritenbrink referred to what he called “unsafe maneuvers” by Chinese vessels inside Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone last month, particularly in the waters around oil and gas facilities.

“The provocative behavior of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) exacerbates risks for companies, effectively driving out competition and paving the way for the PRC to push for a joint development agreement with its state-owned companies,” it said.

Reporting by Michael Martina, David Brunnstrom, and Kanishka Singh; Edited by Alistair Bell

Our standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.