‘Truly disturbing’: Beijing slammed for conducting ballistic missile test in South China Sea

The United States has issued a stern response to Beijing’s latest move in the South China Sea. But where will it leave Australia?

The United States has issued a stern response after the Chinese government conducted ballistic missile testing in the South China Sea.

The Pentagon has confirmed at least one anti-ship weapon was launched in the hotly-contested waters over the past few days.

“Of course the Pentagon was aware of the Chinese missile launch from the man-made structures in the South China Sea near the Spratly Islands,” Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Dave Eastburn said in a statement.

“What’s truly disturbing about this act is that it’s in direct contradiction to President Xi’s statement in the Rose Garden in 2015 when he pledged to the US, the Asia-Pacific region, and the world, that he would not militarise those man-made outposts.”

The development came just after Mr Xi and President Donald Trump paused trade tensions at the G20 summit.

“I’m not going to speak on behalf of all the sovereign nations in the region, but I’m sure they agree that (China’s) behaviour is contrary to its claim to want to bring peace to the region and obviously actions like this are coercive acts meant to intimidate other South China Sea claimants,” Lt Eastburn added.

The United States has issued a stern response after the Chinese government conducted ballistic missile testing in the South China Sea.

The Australian government has acknowledged it’s aware of the missile tests and has voiced its concerns over the developments.

“Australia is concerned at actions by any claimant that could raise tensions in the South China Sea,” a Defence Department spokesperson told news.com.au.

“Australia does not take sides on competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.

“However, we do have a substantial interest in the stability of this crucial international waterway and the norms and laws that govern it.

“We consistently urge all claimants to take meaningful steps to ease tensions and build trust, including through dialogue.”

The Defence Department declined to confirm whether there were any Australian Naval vessels in the region at the time of the missile tests.

“The Australian Defence Force regularly undertakes regional deployments, including in and around the South China Sea. Defence does not intend to publicise the location of deployed assets.”

Former Defence Department official Hugh White has called on Australia to “significantly ramp up” its defence spending rather than depend on the US going forward.

“When you look at the underlying factors, the rise of China and the growth of its economy … it seems very unlikely that America will be able — or for that matter, willing — to marshall the strength required to resist China,” he told Sky News this week.

This isn’t just a consequence of Mr Trump’s presidency. “The stronger China becomes relative to America, the more it costs America to preserve its leadership in Asia, and the more questions are going to be asked in the US about whether that’s really worth America’s while.”