U.S. Bomber’s Flight A ‘Serious Military Provocation,’ China Says

China’s defense ministry is accusing the United States of a “serious military provocation” after two B-52 bombers flew over man-made Chinese-controlled islands in the South China Sea, according to the Associated Press.

In a statement, the ministry confirmed the strategic bombers had entered the airspace near a man-made island on December 10, accusing the USA of deliberately raising tensions in the disputed region.

Two American B-52 bombers also flew near the artificial islands last month.

“We need to remind ourselves that [the] U.S. Navy… has been conducting freedom of navigation operations since Jimmy Carter was in office”, said Craig Allen, a professor of marine and environmental affairs at the University of Washington School of Law.

The ministry demanded the United States immediately adopt measures to prevent such unsafe actions in order to prevent damaging relations between the two militaries and countries. China said that the trip by the USS Lassen within 12 miles of Subi Reef was a violation of its sovereignty. Urban also noted that this was “not a Freedom of Navigation operation”.

“Relevant construction activities that China is undertaking in the islands of South Nansha Islands (Spratly Islands) do not target or impact any country, and China does not intend to pursue militarization”, Xi said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has linked building islands in the South China Sea to national pride, which is at the center of the nation’s resurgence as a military power. Bill Urban as saying in Washington that China had raised its complaints over the flight and that the USA was investigating. Beijing insists that the effort is primarily civilian and is meant to make South China Sea, the region with one of the heaviest maritime traffic in the world, most of it China-bound, a safer place.

He said the USA was “looking into the matter”.

China asserts its claims to nearly all of South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in worldwide trade passes each year, resulting in territorial disputes with several countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia that have overlapping claims.

Following a destroyer sailed close in October, China rebuked the US.