|
 China's increasingly assertive action to back up its sovereignty
claims in the South China Sea have included land reclamation and the
construction of ports and air facilities on several reefs in the
Spratly Islands.
The work has rattled China's neighbors, in particular U.S. ally the
Philippines, and raised concern in the United States.
China says it has irrefutable sovereignty over the Spratly Islands
and no hostile intent.
Admiral Harry Harris, the commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific,
told a Senate hearing on Thursday that China's building of three
airfields on small islands and their further militarization was of
"great concern militarily" and posed a threat to all countries in
the region.
Harris said the United States should exercise freedom of navigation
and flight "in the South China Sea against those islands that are
not islands".
 Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China was
"extremely concerned" about the comments and China opposed "any
country challenging China's sovereignty and security in the name of
protecting freedom of navigation".
"We demand that the relevant country speak and act cautiously,
earnestly respect China's sovereignty and security interests, and
not take any risky or provocative acts," Hong said at a daily news
briefing.
Chinese President Xi Jinping begins a week-long visit to the United
States on Monday.
[to top of second column] |
U.S. concerns about China's pursuit of territorial claims in the
South China Sea will be high on President Barack Obama's agenda in
their talks next Friday.
China has overlapping claims with Vietnam, the Philippines,
Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei in the South China Sea, through which $5
trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year.
On Thursday, the head of the U.S. Senate's military committee
criticized the Obama administration for failing to challenge China's
island building in the South China Sea by sailing within 12 miles
(19.2 km) of them, saying this amounted to de-facto recognition of
Chinese claims.
On Tuesday, a U.S. expert said China was carrying out land
reclamation in the South China Sea this month, more than four weeks
after saying it had stopped such activity, citing recent satellite
images.
(Reporting By Ben Blanchard; Writing By Megha Rajagopalan; Editing
by Robert Birsel)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
