China opposes U.S. naval patrols in South
China Sea
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[February 21, 2017]
BEIJING (Reuters) - China said on
Tuesday it opposed action by other countries under the pretext of
freedom of navigation that undermined its sovereignty, after a U.S.
aircraft carrier strike group began patrols in the contested South China
Sea.
The U.S. navy said the strike group, including the Nimitz-class aircraft
carrier the USS Carl Vinson, began "routine operations" in the South
China Sea on Saturday amid growing tension with China over control of
the disputed waterway.
"China always respects the freedom of navigation and overflight all
countries enjoy under international law," Chinese foreign ministry
spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily news briefing.
"But we are consistently opposed to relevant countries threatening and
damaging the sovereignty and security of littoral countries under the
flag of freedom of navigation and overflight," Geng said in China's
first official comment on the latest U.S. patrol since it began.
"We hope relevant countries can do more to safeguard regional peace and
stability," he said.
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The U.S. carrier strike group has not referred to its recent operations
in the South China Sea as "freedom of navigation" patrols.
U.S. ships last year conducted several such patrols to counter any
efforts to limit freedom of navigation in the strategic waters.
Friction between the United States and China over trade and territory
under U.S. President Donald Trump has increased concern that the South
China Sea could become a flashpoint.
China wrapped up its own naval exercises in the South China Sea on
Friday. War games involving its own aircraft carrier have unnerved
neighbors with which it has long-running territorial disputes.
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![](../images/022117pics/news_n21.jpg)
Sailors man the rails as the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier
departs on deployment from Naval Station North Island in Coronado,
California, U.S. January 5, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Blake
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Beijing last week warned Washington against challenging its
sovereignty in the South China Sea. It claims almost all of the
resource-rich waters, through which about $5 trillion worth of trade
passes each year.
Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim
parts of the South China Sea that command strategic sea lanes and
have rich fishing grounds, along with oil and gas deposits.
The United States has criticized China's construction of man-made
islands and build-up of military facilities in the sea, and
expressed concern they could be used to restrict free movement.
Foreign ministers of the Association of South East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) on Tuesday expressed concern over what they see as
militarization in the South China Sea, Philippines Foreign Secretary
Perfecto Yasay said after meeting with his ASEAN counterparts.
(Reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Robert Birsel)
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