The Financial Times newspaper cited a senior USA official as saying US ships would sail within 12-nautical-mile zones, that China claims as territory around islands it has built in the Spratly chain, within the next two weeks.
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China on Friday said it would not stand for violations of its territorial waters in the name of freedom of navigation, as the United States considers sailing warships close to China’s artificial islands in the South China Sea.
Neither the Pentagon nor the White House confirmed the reports.
A Chinese Coast Guard vessel maneuvers to block a Philippine government supply ship with members of the media aboard at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands, in the South China Sea. “China will never allow any country to violate China’s territorial waters and airspace in the South China Sea”.
“It needs to be pointed out that China always respects and safeguards the freedom of navigation and overflight that all countries enjoy in the South China Sea as well as other places around the world according to global law”, she said at a regular press briefing in Beijing.
The Guardian report suggested that such an escalation could lead to a confrontation in the area to which China has historically claimed sovereignty.
The Nansha islands also called Spratly Islands are also claimed by the Philippines and Vietnam. But he made clear it was an option he had presented to Obama and said the United States must carry out freedom of navigation patrols throughout the Asia-Pacific. “We urge (the) relevant party to refrain from saying or doing anything provocative and act responsibly in maintaining regional peace and stability”, she said, referring to the US.
Asked about claims the fact that the United States desired to undertaking 12-nautical mile confines around China’s man-made location, he responded: “Won’t be make certain that”.
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Admiral Harry Harris, commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, told the Aspen Security Forum in July that China was building hangars on one of the reefs – Fiery Cross – that appeared to be for tactical fighter aircraft.
