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 On a visit to Vietnam, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony
Blinken said Washington would continue to play a constructive role
in supporting its regional allies but was not looking to set up
bases for its troops.
"United States and Vietnam are sharing interest in maintaining peace
and stability in the region, so is China," Blinken said in a speech
at a Hanoi university.
"But its massive land reclamation projects in the South China Sea
and the increasing militarization of these outposts fuels regional
tension and raises serious questions about China's intention,"
Blinken said.
Blinken also called on China, and all nations, to respect an
upcoming decision by an international arbitration court in a case
brought by the Philippines that could dent China's claim to
nine-tenths of the South China Sea.
 Similar comments by Hugo Swire, British minister of state
responsible for East Asia, angered China earlier this week.
Beijing claims virtually all of the South China Sea and rejects the
court's authority in the case, which numerous experts believe will
go in favor of the Philippines, potentially raising tensions in the
strategic waterway.
"The United States will defend our national interests and support
our allies and partners in the region," said Blinken.
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"We are not looking for bases but we will continue to sail, to fly,
to operate anywhere that international law allows."
More than $5 trillion of world trade is shipped through the South
China Sea every year. Apart from China's territorial claims there,
Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have rival
claims.
(Reporting by Mai Nguyen; Editing by Martin Petty)
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