VietNamNet Bridge – A senior US security official said that President Barack Obama will spend time to discuss the recent developments in the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) with ASEAN leaders at the US-ASEAN Summit in the US this week.

The information was released during a press conference ahead of the US - ASEAN Summit that will be held for the first time at Sunnylands estate in Rancho Mirage, California, USA on February 15-17.

Sunnylands estate is also the venue for the US - China Summit three years ago.

At the summit, the leaders will have the opportunity to "discuss some events that recently occurred in the South China Sea, including the test flights on the new runway in the Fiery Cross reef (belonging to Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago)," said Ben Rhodes, deputy national security adviser for strategic communication for President Obama.

He also said the US will emphasize the importance of resolving any territorial disputes in accordance with international norms and law, not as “a big country bullying a small one" (which implied China).

He reaffirmed that the US will not support any side in the sovereignty dispute, but President Obama will continue to urge the parties to stop the claims and construction of new facilities in the disputed places and not militarize the outposts in the East Sea, said Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink.

In the past few years, China has aggressively expanded the reefs of the Truong Sa (Spratlys) and Hoang Sa (Paracels) Archipelagoes of Vietnam, built new runways that can serve fighter planes, and conducted many test flights on these reefs. The move caused concern among the international community about the risk of militarization of the islands in the East Sea, which could escalate disputes.

Late last month, the US conducted activities to confirm maritime freedom in the East Sea, which was warmly welcomed by many ASEAN countries.

The US senior security official said that Washington will continue to develop strong relations with not only its allies, but also coordinate with the military forces of other countries to maintain freedom of maritime navigation and international law.

The protection of these principles benefits all countries, not just those involved in the dispute, Krittenbrink said, when asked about the concerns that China could put pressure on uninvolved ASEAN countries to not mention the dispute in the joint statement of the summit.

US-ASEAN relations

Observers called the US-ASEAN Summit at Sunnylands estate early this week a historic event. This is the first summit held in the US, which has upgraded relations with ASEAN to a strategic partnership at the end of last year.

Through the Sunnylands Summit, the US wants to reaffirm President Obama’s commitment to turn to Asia. "America will always be a party to shape the agenda of the Asia - Pacific region in the coming decades," he said.

The Summit aims to send a message that the US attaches great importance to ASEAN and will continue to be involved in Southeast Asia, will continue to work with countries in Asia Pacific to shape the clear rules to resolve many issues of common interest, Rhodes said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has repeatedly said that Asia's issues must be decided by Asians, a move that was understood by observers to exclude the US out of the game in the region.

Thu Ha (from Honolulu, USA)