Given the international focus on China’s activities in the region, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated today, Saturday, that the US can assist Southeast Asian nations in fighting fishing and illegal shipping.
Sullivan added that Biden intends to work with the Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) to use “wireless frequencies of commercial satellites to track dark shipping and illegal and unorganized fishing”, and this would make it possible to track ships even if their systems are closed to automatic definition.
The capability of the source countries to respond to disasters and humanitarian crises can also be improved, according to Sullivan.
”
Without the mention of China and its regional demands in the South China Sea, Sullivan stressed the need for “freedom to sail” and “legitimate trade without obstacle”, which Biden will discuss with ASEAN leaders during the League’s summit in “Bennah”.
The South China Sea, which is resource-rich and where overfishing on Chinese ships is a serious issue, is where one-third of the world’s shipping ships pass through.
Some of the disputed coral islands and reefs are located more than 800 km from the coast of China and only about 220 km from the Philippines.
In 2016, the International Arbitration Court in The Hague, the Netherlands, rejected China’s regional demands and deemed them to be unlawful.
America wants to work with the ASEAN Association against Illegal Fishing and Shipping.
About Author
