The US has increased in military presence and freedom of navigation operations in the contested region and called on other nations to counter China’s dominance.
Last month, the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, issued an alarming warning to Beijing and called for other nations to counter against China.
Writing on Twitter, Mr Pompeo said: “The United States’ policy is crystal clear: the South China Sea is not China’s maritime empire.
“If Beijing violates international law and free nations do nothing, history shows the CCP will simply take more territory.