The protest follows a similar action by Vietnam last week, which said the test violated Hanoi’s sovereignty, and demanded that China stop such actions.
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The U.S. says China’s recent test of a newly completed runway on one of seven islands Beijing has constructed in the disputed South China Sea raises tensions and threatens regional stability.
China defended its move, saying the flight test was conducted to ensure that the reef it now occupies and transformed into an artificial island with a runway, adheres to safety aviation standards.
China has finished building a new airport on Yongshu Jiao of China’s Nansha Islands.
“That’s the fear, that China will be able to take control of the South China Sea, and it will affect the freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight plus unimpeded flow of commerce”, Jose said.
The government of Japan – which does not make any territorial claims in the South China Sea, but does dispute Chinese claims in the East China Sea – issued a statement expressing “grave concern” over the flight in the Spratly Islands.
Hanoi also protested, labelling the landing a violation of sovereignty which “influences peace and stability in the South China Sea”. However, there are overlapping claims from the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. He said claimants should instead focus on reaching agreement on acceptable behavior in disputed areas.
The Palace said Monday it was studying the ramifications of China’s latest act.
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China’s landing of an aircraft at Fiery Cross Reef has already drawn criticism from its neighbors. “Relevant activity falls completely within China’s sovereignty”, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a press conference. “While this was a civil test, this airport is clearly very militarily capable, and China could presumably start to use it in some capacity at any time”, said Mr. Erickson. “Japan will continue to cooperate with other countries concerned to protect the freedom of the seas”. The chairman of the influential US Senate Armed Services Committee on Monday criticised the Obama administration for delaying further “freedom of navigation” patrols within 12 nautical miles of islands built by China in the South China Sea.
