US sanctions, China's ballistic missile tests further escalate tensions

China reportedly fired four ballistic missiles into South China Sea during an anti-ship strike simulation amid escalating tensions with United States. Scott D. Conn, a US navy vice miral, told reporters on August 26 that People’s Liberation Army has every right to hold such exercise as long as it is in accordance with international law and rms.

simulation exercise coincided with US Defense Secretary Mark Esper speech at Daniel K. Iuye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Hawaii, where he accused China of militarizing South China Sea. He reiterated US’ commitment to free and open Indo-Pacific, calling it an “epicentre of great power competition with China.”

Last month, Defense Secretary h accused Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of continuing to eng in systemic rule-breaking, coercion and or malign activities. He said that PLA continues its aggressive behaviour in East and South China Seas, highlighting Beijing’s bullying tactic in region.

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Esper h deunced China’s alleged unlawful land reclamation and military exercises on and around disputed features in South China Sea. He said that such exercises are inconsistent with its commitments set out in 2002 Declaration on Conduct of Parties in South China Sea. 

New visa restrictions

PLA fired four medium-range ballistic missiles into rrn end of South China Sea around same time when United States anunced visa restrictions on Chinese individuals for involvement in militarization of disputed outposts in South China Sea. Department of Commerce also ded 24 state-owned Chinese enterprises to Entity List, including several subsidiaries of China Communications Construction Company.

“Since 2013, PRC has used its state-owned enterprises to dredge and reclaim more than 3,000 acres on disputed features in South China Sea...trampling on sovereign rights of its neighbours,” State Secretary Mike Pompeo said in a statement.

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