WASHINGTON\u2014The chief of U.S. intelligence said Tuesday China\u2019s aggressive pursuit of territorial claims in the seas of East Asia is driven by a sense of historical destiny and is causing great concern among countries in the region.<\/p>\n
Director of Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said China has pursued a very impressive military modernization that is designed to address what it sees as America\u2019s own military strengths.<\/p>\n
Clapper was responding to a question on China\u2019s recent actions in the East and South China Seas posed at a House Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats.<\/p>\n
The exchanges reflected deepening concern in Washington over China\u2019s assertive behaviour and military modernization that challenges decades of American pre-eminence in the Asia-Pacific. The U.S. could potentially be drawn into a conflict should one break out between China and U.S. treaty allies such as Japan and the\u00a0Philippines.<\/p>\n
Clapper said China has been greatly concerned by the U.S. \u201cpivot\u201d to Asia\u2014the Obama administration\u2019s attempt to boost America\u2019s military, diplomatic and economic presence there\u2014viewing it as an attempt at containment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve been quite aggressive about asserting what they believe is their manifest destiny, if you will, in that part of the world,\u201d Clapper told lawmakers. He added that disputes over islands and energy resources, particularly in the South China Sea, create potential flash points for conflict.<\/p>\n
Beijing denies any aggressive intent. It says its claims have a historical basis, including over most of the resource-rich South China Sea, where it has disputes with nations including Vietnam and the\u00a0Philippines.<\/p>\n
Top ranking Democrat on the committee, Rep. C.A. \u201cDutch\u201d Ruppersberger, described China\u2019s November declaration of an air defence identification zone in the East China Sea\u2014over uninhabited islands controlled by Japan but also claimed by China\u2014as a \u201ctroubling power and land grab\u201d and an affront to international law.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia urged China not to declare a similar zone in airspace over the South China Sea. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel also said that China\u2019s territorial claims must be based on international law, rather than sweeping declarations of jurisdiction.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one can justifiably, in compliance with international law, simply assert the right to exercise control over great swaths of the sea,\u201d Russel told reporters.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe region and the world wants to see that China\u2019s intentions as it grows are to participate in and contribute to the international system as a country that respects international norms, respects the rights of others, and accepts that rules not coercion must, at the end of the day, guide behaviour,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Clapper told lawmakers that China\u2019s military modernization effort extends to all of its armed forces, in space and in cyberspace. He predicted that over time China will try to project its power globally.<\/p>\n
Chinese state media reported Tuesday a three-ship Chinese naval squadron has just concluded exercises in the Indian Ocean, showing off the growing reach of its seagoing forces.<\/p>\n
Ruppersberger raised whether China could threaten U.S. satellite systems, which have widespread military and civilian applications. Clapper responded that there were countries pursuing very aggressive and impressive \u201ccounter-space\u201d capabilities, and the U.S. is taking \u201cappropriate actions\u201d to deal with those potential threats.<\/p>\n
Clapper did not elaborate on China\u2019s military capabilities in space, which first grabbed international attention in 2007 when it shot down one of its own disabled satellites, causing a large amount of space debris.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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