China to secure ‘de facto’ control of South China Sea

By introducing radar, surface-to-air missiles, and jet fighters into the contested Paracel and Spratly Island chains, China has also violated Vietnam’s “undisputable” sovereignty over the two island groups, Binh said, quoted by the Associated Press on Thursday.

James suggested that the fighters include indigenously designed JH-7 fighter-bomber and J-11 aircraft, reported the Wall Street Journal.

Admiral Harry Harris, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, told reporters at the Pentagon on Thursday that “neither South Korea nor the U.S. have agreed to put a THAAD in Korea”.

“The Chinese Government has not yet officially confirmed or denied the report”.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott says Australia has quietly increased air and naval patrols in the disputed South China Sea.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Government has not yet officially confirmed or denied the report. “We’ve been sailing in the South China Sea and will continue to sail wherever worldwide law allows”.

“Nothing is as provocative as building military facilities on islands that the rest of your globe does not accept as being automatically within your ambit”, he said, in reference to the artificial islands China has constructed.

China’s top diplomat voiced anxiety about the possible deployment of a long-range U.S. missile defence system in South Korea, while citing his country’s flexibility in agreeing to new United Nations sanctions against North Korea. “So that’s what’s changed”.

“China’s intent to militarise the South China Sea is as certain as a traffic jam in DC”, Harris said in reference to congestion on the streets of Washington. He said the administration’s “risk aversion” has failed to prevent China’s coercive behavior.

At the end of their annual retreat, held this year in the Lao capital of Vientiane, they noted their worries and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, security and stability in the area. With China’s recent developments, “that’s becoming a more urgent situation”.

China says the system’s radar coverage would extend into China, harming its national security interests.

Harris also repeated that THAAD is aimed to defend South Koreans and Americans in South Korea.

China has the world’s largest missile forces, including short-, medium- and long-range missiles. Wu Qian stressed that the islands are an integral part of China, adding that the military deployment is China’s legitimate right.

Beijing accuses Washington of meddling in the regional issues and deliberately stirring up tensions in the South China Sea.

Regarding China’s economic problems, Harris said he does not believe China’s communist leaders are increasing their aggressiveness in the South China Sea to divert attention from internal Chinese domestic problems. “This argument has strategic mistrust and suspicion behind it”, said Wang.