China ‘destabilising’ Pacific

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper yesterday accused China of "destabilising" the Pacific region on a whistle-stop trip to the tiny island nation of Palau as military tensions grow between the world's two largest economies.

The visit, which lasted barely three hours, comes as Washington attempts to counter Beijing's efforts to gain influence in the sparsely populated but strategically important Pacific island nations.

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Esper said the United States and Palau shared values of freedom "where all countries respect the rules and norms for peace and prosperity of all nations".

"This is especially important today, as we continue work alongside our allies and partners to protect that international system that is under threat from China and its ongoing destabilising activities in the region," he said.

War of words raged between the superpowers on Thursday when Esper vowed not to "cede an inch" in the Pacific and China replied by warning Washington that it was risking soldiers' lives.

Both are at loggerheads over issues from technology and human rights to Chinese military activities in the disputed South China Sea, with each accusing the other of deliberately provocative behavior.

In the latest US move against China ahead of November's presidential election, Washington on Wednesday blacklisted 24 Chinese companies and targeted individuals over construction and military actions in the busy South China Sea waterway.

On Thursday, a US Navy warship carried out a routine operation near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, something frequently criticized by Beijing as threatening its sovereignty.

Esper said the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) wanted Beijing to project power globally via its military.

"We're not going to cede this region, an inch of ground if you will, to another country, any other country."

In Beijing, China's Defense Ministry shot back at "certain US politicians" it said were damaging Sino-US military ties in the run-up to the November election for their own selfish gain, even seeking to create military clashes.

"This kind of behavior puts the lives of frontline officers and soldiers on both sides at risk," it said.