TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The U.S. 7th Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, called on China to recognize Russia's mistakes in invading Ukraine on Friday (Oct. 14), just two days ahead of China's 20th National Party Congress.
Speaking at a maritime security dialogue event in the U.S., Thomas denounced China's territorial claims in the South China Sea. "When you violate sovereignty, when you don't follow rules based on international order, the international community will step up," Thomas said.
The vice admiral stressed that the U.S. and its allies have continuously conducted freedom-of-navigation operations and routinely passed through the Taiwan Strait to prevent China from continuing to step out of bounds.
He said: "The challenge with the PRC is they stay right below that level and they just incrementally work it, so it's very important that we don't accept; and that's why we do freedom-of-navigation operations."
"If you don't push back and if you don't take a stand, then they'll just continue to move the ball down the field, and enough is enough," he added.
Thomas also regarded China's military actions following U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in August as "irresponsible" and stressed that under the Taiwan Relations Act, the U.S. has a responsibility toward the democratic nation's defense.
