News / Foreign Policy

‘US naval drill risks confrontation with China’

Friday, 09 October 2015 9:58 AM [ Last Update: Friday, 09 October 2015 9:58 AM ]

This US Navy photo released August 21, 2015 shows the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS George Washington (CVN 73) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) pierside at Naval Air Station North Island while conducting a hull-swap on August 18, 2015 in San Diego, California. (AFP)

America’s planned naval maneuvers in the South China Sea pose the risk of a clash with the Chinese military, say reports.

According to the Financial Times, US navy ships are preparing to sail through a 12-nautical mile zone around the disputed Spratly Islands that China claims as its own territory.

The report, citing senior US officials, said the maneuvers are expected to begin over the next two weeks.

China is now concerned about such reports, with Hua Chunying, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, saying: “We hope the United States can look upon the current situation of the South China Sea from an objective and fair perspective and play a constructive role together with China in keeping the peace and stability in the South China Sea.”

“I believe the US side is extremely clear about China’s relevant principled stance,” the Guardian quoted Hua as saying.

The Guardian report suggested that such an escalation could lead to a confrontation in the area to which China has historically claimed sovereignty.

In May, Ashton Carter, the US defense secretary, said China’s actions were increasing “the risk of miscalculation or conflict” in the region, which is a key global shipping lane.

China insists it has sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims.

China and Japan also have conflicting claims in the East China Sea.

The US does not recognize China’s sovereignty in the disputed waters and has sent surveillance aircraft and warships to challenge Beijing’s territorial claims.

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