US weighs deploying air and naval units to South China sea
The US announced on Tuesday it was considering deploying air and naval units to ensure freedom of navigation around the artificial islands that China is building in the contested waters of the South China Sea.
That followed China's land reclamation efforts at Mischief Reef located in the Spratly Islands, despite repeated warnings from the US that it did not recognise these man-made islands as sovereign Chinese territory.
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter pointed out his country was considering deploying aircraft and vessels to the area, in a move that could see tensions between both countries escalate.
“China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters,” said the Chinese embassy spokesman in Washington D.C., Zhu Haiquan, using the Chinese name for the Spratlys, Wall Street Journal reported.
The construction is justified and lawful and is beyond reproach
“The relevant construction, which is reasonable, justified and lawful, is well within China’s sovereignty. It does not impact or target any country, and is thus beyond reproach.”
According to US estimates, China has recently expanded surface area of these islands to 2,000 acres of land, up from 500 acres in 2014.
Rabobank analysts took note of the news overnight, indicating that it had caught the attention of many observers in the marketplace.
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