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China’s claim to own the South China Sea are “preposterous” and illegal, according to a State Department report made public this week.

Beijing’s “maritime claims in the South China Sea, exemplified by the preposterous ‘Nine-Dash Line,’ are unfounded, unlawful and unreasonable,” states the report on U.S. policy supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

“These claims, which are without legal, historic or geographic merit, impose real costs on other countries,” the report added. “Through repeated provocative actions to assert the Nine-Dash Line, Beijing is inhibiting ASEAN members from accessing over $2.5 trillion in recoverable energy reserves, while contributing to instability and the risk of conflict.”

The report was released Sunday in the run-up to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Bangkok this week.

White House National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien accused China during the summit of bullying neighbors in the South China Sea.

“Beijing has used intimidation to try and stop ASEAN nations from exploiting their offshore resources,” he said on Monday. “Big countries should not bully other countries.”

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/nov/6/us-china-claim-to-sea-preposterous/