Kamala Harris accuses Beijing of intimidation in South China Sea claim

• Her comments come as much of the world's attention is on the crisis in Afghanistan — with the return of the Taliban nearly 20 years on from the group's ouster by U.S.-led forces.

What she's saying: "We know that Beijing continues to coerce, to intimidate and to make claims to the vast majority of the South China Sea," Harris said.

• "These unlawful claims have been rejected by the 2016 arbitral tribunal decision, and Beijing's actions continue to undermine the rules based order and threaten the sovereignty of nations," she continued, in reference to an international court ruling on Beijing's claims in the Hague.
• Harris said the U.S. "stands with our allies and our partners" against China's government and that "Beijing's actions continue to undermine the rules-based order and threaten the sovereignty of nations."

Of note: The vice president stressed that the Biden administration's engagement in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region was "not against any one country, nor is it designed to make anyone choose between countries."

Editor's note: This article has been updated to include more comment from Harris and further context.