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Beijing hits back at freedom of navigation operations

China hit back yesterday at United States President Donald Trump’s veiled criticism of its territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea, countering that the US was a greater threat to sovereignty.

China hit back yesterday at United States President Donald Trump’s veiled criticism of its territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea, countering that the US was a greater threat to sovereignty.

“For some time now, some countries have used the pretext of freedom of navigation to bring their planes and fleets near the South China Sea,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a regular news briefing. “Actually, I think this behaviour has threatened the sovereignty of South China Sea countries.”

In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Mr Trump decried “threats to sovereignty” in Ukraine and the resource-rich South China Sea, without explicitly mentioning Russia or China.

China claims nearly all the South China Sea and has rapidly turned reefs into artificial islands capable of hosting military planes. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan also have claims. The US has conducted three “freedom of navigation” operations near islands held by China to challenge the Asian giant’s maritime claims, since Mr Trump took office in January.

Mr Lu said the situation in the sea “has been cooling down” thanks to efforts by China and the Association of South-east Asian Nations.

“I hope that this situation can be respected by relevant countries,” he said. AFP

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