US to Back Nations That Say China Violated Their South China Sea Claims

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a news conference at the State Department in Washington, D.C., on July 15, 2020. Andrew Harnik/Pool via Reuters

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States will support countries that assert China has violated their maritime claims in the South China Sea but suggested it would do so through diplomatic rather than military means.

“We will support countries all across the world who recognize that China has violated their legal territorial claims as well—or maritime claims as well,” Pompeo told reporters on July 15.