The US sent a letter to the UN to protest China's illegal claim in the South China Sea

American Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft. Photo: AP

The US ambassador to the United Nations on June 1 wrote to the Secretary-General of the United Nations opposing China's illegal sovereignty claims in the South China Sea.

In a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, US representative at the United Nations, Ambassador Kelly Craft mentioned China's note on 12 December 2019 to protest Malaysia sending the same day. Submit to the United Nations Continental Shelf Boundary Committee.

Ambassador Kelly Craft emphasized that the United States opposes China's maritime sovereignty claims because they are not in compliance with international law reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Kelly Craft asked Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to circulate his letter to all United Nations members as a text for the agenda of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council.

Ambassador Kelly Craft also asked Mr. Guterres to post the letter on the department's website on ocean and maritime law issues of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs.  

On Twitter June 2, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared the United States opposed China's illegal sovereignty claims in the South China Sea. According to Secretary of State Pompeo, China's claims are dangerous and against the law. Pompeo also urged United Nations member states to unite in maintaining international law and freedom of navigation.