China complained the plane flew within 2 nautical miles of the reef, a United States defence official said on condition of anonymity.
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China on Saturday accused the United States of deliberately increasing the tensions in South China Sea after a U.S. Air Force B-52 strategic bomber was spotted flying near Chinese-claimed territory in the disputed region.
The Pentagon says its looking into the complaint, but that there was no plan for the B52 to fly within 12 nautical miles of any artificial island.
Washington has said China’s transformation of the geographical features in the Spratly Islands poses a threat to freedom of navigation in the critical area.
The Daily Mail reports that China is not happy after learning that a U.S. B-52 bomber flew within 12 nautical miles of the Spratlys in the South China Sea.
The information office of the ministry said the Chinese military kept close surveillance on the bombers’ activities and gave it warnings.CCTV’s Jim Spellman has a timeline of previous incidents between the two countries in and above the waters off China. The ministry also repeated previous assertions that it would take whatever necessary measures to protect China’s sovereignty and security.
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”.
For its part, the U.S. as serts that it does not recognise China’s claims over the South China Sea.
Pitching for freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, India has favoured peaceful resolution of the dispute and has economic interests in hydro-carbon rich sea. Bill Urban as saying in Washington that China had raised its complaints over the flight and the USA was investigating.
However satellite photographs had shown the construction of three military-length airstrips by China in the Spratlys, including one each on Mischief and Subi reefs. “China has always supported freedom of navigation and we are for creating a code of conduct to ensure smooth navigation in that region”, he said, asking external powers not to meddle in the issue.
As is China’s usual practice the Foreign Ministry took a more diplomatic tone.
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In addition to praising Taiwan’s initiatives in the South China Sea, US House Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Matt Salmon in a statement on Thursday praised the agreement between Taiwan and the Philippines on fisheries law.
