The situation in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) is critical to the national security interest of the United States, the White House has said. “The President [Barack Obama] has often talked about how critically important the security situation is in the South China Sea. It’s critical to the national security of the United States,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest was quoted as saying in a report by the Press Trust of India and carried by the Indian Express. China’s extensive land reclamation efforts in the South China Sea have contributed to rising tensions, he reiterated and said “under international law it’s clear that land reclamation cannot change the maritime zones of a geographical feature. That would include a territorial sea or an exclusive economic zone. So it’s only naturally formed land features that are entitled to maritime zones.

Sy Egco, J. M. (2015, May 28). West PH Sea critical to US security. The Manila Times, pp. A1, A8.