Economics

U.S. Against China’s Destabilizing Behavior, Esper Says

Militarization of South China Sea is a concern: Pompeo
Esper, Pompeo in Sydney for annual strategy talks with ally

Mike Pompeo and Mark Esper at a news conference in Sydney on Aug. 4.Photographer: Brendon Thorne/Bloomberg

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By Chelsea Mes and Jason Scott

August 4, 2019 at 5:59 AM UTC

Updated on

August 4, 2019 at 7:20 AM UTC

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Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said the U.S. is firmly against China’s “destabilizing” behavior in the Indo-Pacific region and won’t stand by while one country reshapes the area, continuing a war of words between the superpowers.

There is a “disturbing pattern of aggressive” conduct, Esper said at a press conference in Sydney on Sunday, speaking after annual strategy talks with his Australian counterparts.