China warns United States against ‘minor’ incidents that could ‘spark war’

“If the U.S. continues to carry out these kinds of unsafe, provocative acts, there could be a serious situation between frontline forces from both sides on the sea and in the air, or even a minor incident that could spark conflict”, Wu said.

The PCA’s assumption of jurisdiction comes amid growing tensions between China and the United States, after a US Navy ship breached the Chinese-imposed 12-nautical mile limit around artificial islands it has built on reefs in the Spratlys.

“China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands and the adjacent waters”.

The Executive Yuan said Monday that it will take all necessary steps to defend the Republic of China’s sovereignty and maritime rights over its territorial islands in the South China Sea.

Other claimants are Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

“The USA has conducted naval operations in the South China Sea in recent days and will conduct similar operations in the future”, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said.

Also, the South China Sea islands were first discovered, named and used, as well as incorporated into national territory, by the Chinese, the ministry said.

According to a U.S. Navy spokesman, the patrol was a freedom of navigation maneuver created to “protect the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea and airspace guaranteed to all nations under global law”.

Yang reiterated Beijing’s claim that the USS Lassen violated Chinese sovereignty and worldwide law, although the sail-by appeared to fall under internationally allowed “innocent passage” rules.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague issued the ruling Thursday, despite China’s objections that the tribunal has little authority to review such a case.

“For more than 4 decades, the South China Sea has been mostly stable, although a few countries have illegally occupied a few Chinese islets since the 1970s, and have caused disputes”.

The South China sea corridor carries great importance as a trade passageway since $5 trillion ship-borne trade crossed the coast line every year.

“We agreed to expand economic and social cooperation for the mutual prosperity of Northeast Asia, and also to strengthen cooperation among the three countries to create new growth momentum”, South Korean President Park Geun-hye said after the summit Sunday, as reported by Reuters.

While cooperating closely with the United States and other countries concerned, Japan should keep a watch on China’s moves in the South China Sea.

Cui Tiankai, China’s ambassador to the US, said shortly after the incident that Beijing has to now seriously think about beefing up its defence capabilities in the region.

It charged that bringing the case to an worldwide court was not an effort to settle disputes, but an attempt to “negate China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights”.