TAKAI RESPONDS TO STATEMENT BY CHINESE OFFICIAL ON INCREASED MILITARIZATION OF SOUTH CHINA SEA

Washington, D.C. – (RealEstateRama) — Congressman Mark Takai responded to comments by China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying, comparing the United States’ military infrastructure in Hawaii to China’s land reclamation and strategic placement of missiles on disputed territory in the South China Sea.

“Hawaii is a part of the United States, and no other nation currently has pending claims against it,” Takai said. “What China has done is not the same, and any comparisons made of this nature are only meant to distract from their actions attempting to forcefully change the long-standing territorial status-quo of the Asia-Pacific. The area which China has reclaimed and militarized thus far constitutes over 95% of reclaimed land in the Spratly Islands –17 times more than the other claimants combined over the last 40 years.”

“Through my seat on the House Armed Services Committee, I will continue to promote efforts for multi-lateral security cooperation with our allies and partners in the region, and work to back U.S. leadership in supporting a truly peaceful resolution to territorial disputes. Freedom of navigation in the Asia-Pacific is crucial to global security and the economy, and the U.S. must lead diplomatically, backed by power and our partners in the region, to ensure that this remains the standing world order,” Takai concluded.