US, China Near Deal over UN Sanctions on N. Korea

Harris said Chinese DF-21 and DF-26 anti-ship missiles deployed on Woody Island and other recent steps meant that China is “clearly militarizing” the South China Sea. Then on Monday, a US think tank reported that China has built new radar facilities in the Spratly Islands, which lie further south. Harris confirmed new radar on Cuarteron Reef in the Spratlys.

Neither man was willing to describe what the potential U.N. Security Council resolution might say and both emphasized a willingness to resume so-called six-party talks on reining in the North’s nuclear program.

While China has joined in the worldwide criticism following North Korea’s January 6 nuclear test and February 7 rocket launch, it has been reluctant to impose tough economic sanctions that could threaten the stability of its traditional ally.

Taiwan also claims the Paracels, one of two disputed Asian island chains that China says it owns. “Over the past several years China has acted less like a “responsible stakeholder” of the rules-based order of the Asia Pacific region and more like a bully”, Senator John McCain, Chairman of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee said during a Congressional hearing on the US Pacific Command.

Asked whether the South China Sea and the missiles would come up when Wang meets Kerry, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Washington should not use the issue of military facilities on the islands as a “pretext to make a fuss”.

“In fact, there has never been such a problem with freedom of navigation in the South China Sea”, Wang stressed.

In his testimony, Admiral Harry Harris, Commander of the US Pacific Command said China views the South China Sea as a strategic frontline in their quest to dominate East Asia out to the Second Island Chain.

“We are looking at the possibility of reaching agreement on the draft resolution and passing it in the near future”, he said at the press conference at the State Department.

Speaking ahead of his Tuesday meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Kerry told a separate Senate hearing that the US and China are on the verge of an agreement on a “substantial” U.N. Security Council resolution against the North Korea.

“Regrettably there are missiles and fighter aircraft and guns and other things that have been placed into the South China Sea and this if of great concern to everyone who transits and relies on the South China Sea for peaceful trade”, he added.

But both powers vowed that they would not accept a nuclear-armed North Korea and expressed confidence the resolution would be strong enough to force Kim Jong-Un’s isolated regime to reconsider its strategy.

Wang said that “parallel” talks would try to move North Korea toward denuclearization and also cement peace between Pyongyang and Seoul. The United States and Japan raised concerns about China’s deployment of HQ-9 air defense missiles, with Vietnam going to the United Nations secretary general to complain that China had violated its national sovereignty.

“It’s something that we must continue to do”, he said. “I hope friends in the media will not only see the radar, but, more importantly perhaps, that every day the advanced armaments and equipment emerging in the South China Sea”, Wang said, “including the strategic bombers, the missile destroyers”.

“We carefully considered their proposal, and made clear that denuclearization had to be part of any such discussion”.