South China Sea Controversy 2016: Two More Planes Land In Disputed Territory

Of all the six claimants, China and Taiwan harbor the most ambitious claims, asserting ownership of over 90 percent of the waters where a bulk of the world’s trade pass. However, China is more aggressive with its rapid construction of man-made islands, equipped with runways and buildings, on formerly submerged and disputed reefs.

China successfully carried out test flights of two commercial airliners on Wednesday at a newly built airfield in the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea.

China has been building runways on the artificial islands for more than a year, and the plane’s landing was not a surprise.

The United States said after the first landing it was concerned that the flight had exacerbated tension. Reacting to the report, Gu Xiaosong, a researcher of the Southeast Asian studies at the Guangxi Academy of Social Sciences told the daily that “India has no territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea”. At the time, Reuters wrote that the Vietnamese military had begun emphasizing “high combat readiness” – implicitly against China – and that some military officials were concerned that military conflict with China was unavoidable. The planes returned to Hainan later that day. The Philippines, a USA ally, said Monday it was also considering a formal protest.

“Vietnam resolutely requests China to immediately end similar acts and have no further violating acts”, Binh said in an online statement.

“That’s the fear, that China will be able take control of the South China Sea and it will affect the freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight”, Jose said.

But Cook said Thursday they only raise tensions in the region.

Del Rosario said the Philippines would protest to China about its flights. It is believed that the area has vast deposits of oil and gas.

Hammond was to meet with President Aquino for discussion of the strategic partnership between Britain and the Philippines amid threats to global and regional security and prosperity.

Analysts warn that the risk of conflict in the seas is significant, especially as the United States pushes the limits of China’s claim – which stretches to nearly its entire area – by sending warships near Beijing-controlled territories.

As originally reported on AP News and BBC News, China has received opposition from both Vietnam and the Philippine governments following recent air tests on a newly completed runway. “Very likely within the first half of the year”, Xu said.

The establishment of these islands as a military base would be an important tool for Chinese power projection in the region.

United States officials remain committed to carrying out further “freedom of navigation” patrols near the disputed islands, but are still debating the timing of another patrol, said one U.S. defense official, who was not authorized to speak publicly.