Taiwan: China has deployed missiles in South China Sea

THE Philippines strongly condemned on Friday China’s placing of missiles on Woody Island, which is part of the territories being disputed in the South China Sea, saying such actions is in direct contrast to the latter’s own previous commitment.

He called for “tangible steps to lower tensions including a halt to further reclamation, new construction and militarisation of disputed areas”.

The U.S. anticipates a “very serious conversation” with China in the near future following reports of the Asian power’s apparently increasing military presence in the South China Sea, Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday.

“We hope the two countries can objectively view the historical developments of the South China Sea, not neglect the facts, and not put forward proposals that are unconstructive”, Hong told reporters at a regular briefing.

China has built seven artificial islands in the Spratly chain in the South China Sea and constructed airstrips on three of them, prompting worry in the West about possible military intent.

With the South China Sea in mind, a joint statement by the leaders of ASEAN set forth the importance of maintaining maritime security and safety by ensuring the right to the freedom of navigation, nonmilitarization and self-restraint.

The U.S. and South Korean governments have been in discussions regarding the THAAD system after a North Korean rocket test February 7 and the DPRK’s fourth nuclear test January 6.

At a summit of Southeast Asian leaders in California on Monday, Vietnam’s prime minister suggested to U.S. President Barack Obama that Washington take “more efficient actions” against militarization and island-building.

Beijing: Western media reports of anti-aircraft missiles in South China Sea “nothing but hype ” Washington says, if missiles have been positioned on the island, it would be more evidence that Beijing is militarizing the region. The limited self-defense facilities deployed on the islands are the result of China’s right to self-defense granted by global law, which has nothing to do with militarization. “It’s within China’s sovereignty”.

It did not specify what weapons were on the island.

Turnbull said both Australia and New Zealand wanted to see a lowering of tensions as he urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to resolve all disputes in the seas – through which one-third of the world’s oil passes – through legal means.

A Thursday editorial in the newspaper argued that the US has “injected the most military elements in the region”.

Although India admitted that the deployment of missiles by China on the disputed island is not at all a surprise move, it said that militarisation of the region is definitely a cause of concern.