China welcomes Mattis' emphasis on South China Sea diplomacy
China on Monday welcomed US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' suggestion that diplomacy should be the priority in the South China Sea, and that major US military action was not being considered to contend with China's assertive behaviour there.
Mattis, speaking in Tokyo on Saturday, blamed China for "shredding the trust of nations in the region," but also played down any need for US military manoeuvres in the disputed waters of the South China Sea and instead called for open lines of communication. The comments, his most complete on the issue to date, came after analysts had said other remarks made by President Donald Trump's administration had suggested the possibility of US military action, or even a naval blockade.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters at a regular briefing that Mattis' emphasis on using diplomatic means of resolving disputes in the South China Sea was "worthy of affirmation" and that the situation there was normalising.
