Vietnam objects to Chinese test flight

Washington has criticized China’s construction of artificial islands in the South China Sea and worries that Beijing plans to use them for military purposes, even though China says it has no hostile intent. “We are concerned that these test flights have exacerbated tensions and are inconsistent with the region’s commitments to exercise restraint from actions that could complicate or escalate disputes”, the Pentagon said. He also called on Asian countries involved in the islands’ row to “halt land reclamation and further development of new facilities and militarisation on their outposts”.

Senior leaders from China and Vietnam have repeatedly tried to ease tensions over the South China Sea, which have pushed Hanoi to seek closer economic and political ties with the US.

China, which is defiant against all criticism and continues to claim nearly the entire South China Sea as its backyard, has been causing alarm among its neighbours as it builds up infrastructure on reefs in the disputed waters.

It is believed to be the first time that China has allowed an aircraft to take off or land at the airstrip on Fiery Cross Reef, one of many artificial or artificially enlarged islands China has created in the Spratlys.

Vietnam said last week that the flight test violated its sovereignty and demanded that China stop similar actions.

“The test flight of China in Kagitingan Reef has definitely raised tensions in the region”, he added. “China will not accept the unfounded accusation from the Vietnamese side”, she said, referring to the Spratlys by their Chinese name. In 2014, it started building a runway on Fiery Cross Reef, located on the western edge of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

Vietnam objected the move and filed a formal diplomatic protest against China. We think at present, the general situation in the South China Sea area is stable.

Vietnam also claims the Fiery Cross reef.

According to associate professor at the U.S. Naval War College, Andrew Erickson, China already has two completed airfields in the South China Sea.

Go away! This photo taken on February 4 shows a protest sign driving the Chinese away from Pagasa Island on the Facebook page of Kalayaan Atin Ito.

Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have claims to parts of the Sea, home to strategic shipping lanes as well as substantial oil and gas reserves.

Meanwhile, over China’s test flight to the newly built airport, which the latter rejected.