US defense secretary visits Vietnam, vows support for region

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — U.S. Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin is searching for to bolster ties with Vietnam, one of many Southeast Asian nations embroiled in a territorial rift with China, throughout a two-day go to beginning Wednesday.

In a speech in Singapore, his first cease within the area he’s visiting for the primary time as a member of President Joe Biden’s Cupboard, Austin stated Tuesday he was dedicated to pursuing a constructive, secure relationship with China, together with stronger disaster communications with the Individuals’s Liberation Military.

However he repeated that Beijing’s declare to nearly your complete South China Sea “has no foundation in worldwide regulation” and “treads on the sovereignty of states within the area.”

He stated the U.S. continues to help the area’s coastal states in upholding their rights underneath worldwide regulation, and stays dedicated to the protection treaty obligations the U.S. has with Japan and the Philippines.

“Sadly, Beijing’s unwillingness to resolve disputes peacefully and respect the rule of regulation isn’t simply occurring on the water,” Austin stated. “Now we have additionally seen aggression towards India … destabilizing navy exercise and different types of coercion towards the individuals of Taiwan … and genocide and crimes towards humanity towards Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.”

In Beijing, Overseas Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian responded to Austin.

“The U.S. ignored the info, intentionally smeared China, interfered in China’s inner affairs and sowed discords amongst regional nations with the purpose of serving its personal geopolitical curiosity,” Zhao stated at a daily information briefing. “We admonish the U.S. aspect to not make a problem about China at each flip and do extra for the advantage of peace and stability within the area.”

Austin is scheduled to fulfill his Vietnamese counterpart, Phan Van Giang, on Thursday morning. He leaves for the Philippines on Friday.

Vietnam and the Philippines are amongst China’s fiercest opponents within the territorial disputes within the South China Sea, the place Beijing has ignored its neighbors’ protests and has constructed a number of islands outfitted with airstrips and navy installations. Vietnam has beforehand accused China of obstructing its gasoline exploration actions off its southern shores.

Austin’s go to comes as Vietnam is within the grip of a coronavirus surge, with Hanoi and half of the nation in lockdown.

The ushas donated 5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine, a part of the 80 million doses that Biden pledged to lower-income nations world wide.