Commander of the US Pacific Fleet Admiral Scott Swift has reiterated the US’s commitment to protect freedom of navigation in the Asian-Pacific region, including the East Sea.

Commander of the US Pacific Fleet Admiral Scott Swift (Source: navytimes.com)

Addressing the Pacific 2015 Maritime conference opened in Sydney, Australia, on October 6, the Admiral said the US will continually defend and protect freedom of the seas through routine presence, exercise with allies and partners, and freedom of navigation operations.

He pointed out that some countries continue to impose superfluous warnings and restrictions on freedom of the seas in their exclusive economic zones and claim territorial water rights that are inconsistent with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“This trend is particularly egregious in contested waters,” he said, warning if bullying behaviour at sea is not confronted, it will spread and become a “friction point” on land.

The biennial Pacific conference draws navy chiefs from over 50 countries as well as government and industry delegations across the world.

(Source: VNA)