KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The recent escalation of tensions in the South China Sea is caused by repeated instigation by the United States, Koh King Kee, president of the Centre for New Inclusive Asia, a non-governmental Malaysian think tank, has recently said.

Countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) prefer to resolve disputes through negotiation and do not support taking confrontational actions on the South China Sea issue, Koh emphasized in a recent interview with Xinhua.

The people of ASEAN countries oppose U.S. actions that undermine regional stability, he added.

As the United States views China as its main strategic competitor for the coming decades, it has become a global strategic goal for the United States to shape an unfavorable strategic environment around China to gain geopolitical benefits, Koh said.

The United States is attempting to encircle China by strengthening relationships with its regional allies, said the expert, adding that the approach taken by the current Philippine government in handling the South China Sea issue aligns well with the U.S. strategy to contain China.

Currently, the Philippines and the United States are conducting a 19-day joint military exercise named "Balikatan 2024," some activities of which appear to be provocative, said Koh.

The United States has deployed its new Typhon mid-range ground-based missile launcher in Luzon, the Philippines, marking the first time such a missile system is deployed by the United States in Southeast Asia and posing a serious threat to the security of the region, Koh stressed.

Highlighting that ASEAN countries and China are close neighbors and the two sides are each other's largest trading partners, Koh said that their cooperation is based on a long-term mutually beneficial and win-win relationship.

ASEAN countries generally cherish their good relations with China, the expert added.

In light of the complex situation, ASEAN countries should take more active measures to maintain regional peace and stability and resolve issues through dialogue, Koh said. Enditem

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