United States bomber flies over SCS; China lodges strong protest

A Chinese Defense Ministry statement said the United States is deliberately raising tensions in the disputed region. Beijing also demanded Washington take immediate measures to avoid such incidents that strained the relations between the two countries’ militaries.

“Chinese armed forces will take whatever measures necessary to safeguard China’s national sovereignty and security as well as peace and stability of the region”, the ministry warned in an online statement on its website today.

US Representative Scott DesJarlais noted the South China Sea peace initiative proposed by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) in May, which reiterates Taiwan’s position of shelving disputes and promoting joint resource development in the contested waters – to which Taiwan lays claim – and Taiwan’s inauguration of a newly constructed lighthouse and renovated wharf on Itu Aba this month. The Navy Commander Bill Urban, a Pentagon spokesman, claims the close flight path was “accidental” and that there was no plan for the bomber to fly within 12 nautical miles of any of the three islands.

According to author and chief geopolitical analyst for Stratfor Robert D. Kaplan, “the South China Sea functions as the throat of the Western Pacific and Indian oceans – the mass of connective economic tissue where global sea routes coalesce”.

Wright said the USA was “looking into the matter”. “This will make it worse”, Mr Le Yuchneg, Chinese ambassador to India, said in an apparent message to the United States and India. The artificial islands consist of three separate islands in the South China Sea that the country claims as part of their territory.

In an effort to consolidate its claim, China has been piling sand on the reefs and atolls in the Spratly Islands archipelago before adding buildings, ports and airstrips big enough to handle bombers and fighter jets.

“Relevant construction activities that China is undertaking in the islands of South Nansha Islands (Spratly Islands) do not target or impact any country, and China does not intend to pursue militarization”, Xi said.

The US has not taken sides on sovereignty issues in the area, but has a “freedom of navigation” policy asserting rights of passage for its military.

The US rejects Beijing’s claim and occasionally sends its warplanes and warships through the 12 nautical mile area around the artificial islands, which China sees as its exclusive zone. The government filed a diplomatic complaint to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, which has prompted the Pentagon investigation.

The US guided missile destroyer USS Lassen sailed within 12 nautical miles of the Subi Reef in late October, which the Chinese branded “extremely irresponsible”.

The main contractor behind the weaponry is Raytheon. Officials say the US intends to continue periodic patrols to establish freedom of navigation, laying the stakes for more confrontations.