US diplomat says South China Sea within ‘America’s interest’ By Michaela P. del Callar 10/05/2010

US diplomat says South China Sea within ‘America’s interest’

By Michaela P. del Callar 10/05/2010

The United States’ top diplomat to the Philippines yesterday said stability and unfettered access to the disputed South China Sea waters is within America’s “national interest,” saying this will ensure a freer flow of trade in the region.

Ambassador Harry Thomas called for the adoption of a strong and legally binding code of conduct, which is aimed at preventing South China Sea territorial disputes from erupting into armed conflict.

“We think that it is important for the United States to remain engaged in Asia. Asia is a huge trading partner for us and contributes so much to exports and imports to our economy. In order to have that we need freedom of navigation, we need freedom of seas and we need stability,” Thomas told foreign correspondents in a briefing.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for unimpeded access to the area that China claims wholly as its own, and accused Beijing of adopting an increasingly aggressive stance off the South China Sea..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20101005nat1.html