The Associated Press & Scripps National – Posted at 8:38 AM, Aug 24, 2021 and last updated 3:38 AM, Aug 24, 2021
SINGAPORE (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a sharp rebuke to China for its incursions in the South China Sea during a speech in Singapore on Tuesday.
She warned that China’s actions there amount to coercion and intimidation, and she affirmed that the U.S. will support its allies in the region against Beijing’s advances.
“We know that Beijing continues to coerce, to intimidate, and to make claims to the vast majority of the South China Sea,” said Harris. “These unlawful claims have been rejected by the 2016 arbitral tribunal decision. And Beijing’s actions continue to undermine the rules-based order and threaten the sovereignty of nations.”
Harris also highlighted America’s trade relationships in Southeast Asia.
“Collectively, the nations of Southeast Asia represent our nation’s fourth-largest export market – a vibrant and dynamic market which will soon rank among the biggest markets in the world,” she said. “Our trade relationships in Southeast Asia support more than 600,000 American jobs. And now, with an eye toward the future, we are strengthening our economic engagement.”
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