Lorenzana says no single power should control South China Sea

Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana warned countries against “sleepwalking” into an international conflict, even as he declared that no “single power” should have control over vital areas such as the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea). Speaking at the Shangri-La dialogue in Singapore over the weekend, Lorenzana said disputes among nations could possibly spark war.“With the untethering of our networks of economic interdependence, comes growing risk of confrontation that could lead to war,” he said in his speech.“Our greatest fear, therefore, is the possibility of sleepwalking into another international conflict like World War 1,” he added.Lorenzana’s remarks came after the United States warned China not to bully its Asian neighbours.Acting US Secretary of Defence Patrick Shanahan referred to nations using a “toolkit of coercion” to destabilise the region, including “deploying advanced weapons systems to militarize disputed areas.”But Beijing countered that it would not hesitate to take military action to defend its maritime claims.Gen. Wei Fenghe said China would not yield an inch of its sacred land. Lorenzana said war could happen, “even when no one desires it.” He suggested that “confidence building measures” should be comprehensive to cover all relevant concerns.“This is most especially important in potential flashpoints such as the South and East China Seas, where the risk of miscalculation and unwanted conflict is rising on a daily basis, as great powers expand their military footprint and pursue divergent visions,” he said.The nations, he added, should agree that freedom of navigation and overflight at international seas is “indispensable to regional peace and security.”“In our view, no single power should exercise unilateral control over vital arteries of global trade, such as the South China Sea. We need to collectively protect our global commons,” Lorenzana said.The Defence chief cited several disputes in Asia such as the Sabah dispute between Malaysia and the Philippines, the Ligitan and Sipadan dispute between Malaysia and Indonesia, and the border dispute surrounding the Preah Vihear Temple between Cambodia and Thailand, among others.Lorenzana said the Asean had been “unique” in its approach to manage and resolve the disputes through peaceful dialogue, diplomatic negotiations and obedience to the international law.He called for a peaceful and multilateral approach in resolving the South China Sea dispute.“In more concrete terms, we should consider joint exploration activities, as well as environmental protection regimes, which ensures the equitable, just and lawful exploration, usage, sharing of hydrocarbon reserves and preservation and protection of marine resources,” Lorenzana said.“What is clear is that great power rivalry is a dangerous distraction from the coming storm. But if we continue to closely collaborate and co-operate we may very well overcome these existential challenges and, along the way, create a more inclusive, nimble and robust security architecture — one that is upheld by the collective effort of every nation, no matter their size, resources and creed,” he added.